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magicpotatoobsession · 3 years

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GIVEN | My Band is my Family [Part 1/2]

YO, HERE IS SOMETHING INTERESTING.

Isn't it kind of funny how Haruki and Uenoyama have been SUPPORT for another band but Akihiko and Mafuyu both kind of hate that?

I realised something after having a quick dive into their past.

Depending on each Given character's FAMILY and upbringing, they all interpret the idea of COMMITMENT to the BAND very differently!

[Manga/Anime Spoilers ahead!]

Characters from Stable families

Haruki and Uenoyama, who come from stable families when they are asked to play support for another band.

Stable families are what I define as 'married parents' families in the context of Given. I am not saying that other forms of family structures are not stable. This is the term I will use for this blog to convey my ideas more clearly. Peace ✌️

Two things:

They see band = family in the sense that when it boils down to it, they will always prioritise their own band's needs and dynamics. But because they don't come from broken families, they see playing support for another band as temporary and not that big of a deal.

Their motivation for temporarily wanting to joining another band is because they are feeling some sense of disconnectedness from their own band members.

Haruki

Haruki comes from a pretty normal family with both parents presumably still together, a jolly sister and a niece who randomly comes to visit him sometimes. Because Haruki has a strong familial base, Haruki doesn't have trouble bringing people together or relying on different support networks.

The point in the story where he agrees to play support

Haruki for two years has been silently crushing on Akihiko and after hearing Mafuyu's singing, his loneliness was amplified.

Haruki's illusion of "Akihiko has calmed down" that Akihiko himself has so carefully constructed for Haruki is quickly shattering.

Haruki's insecurities of inadequacy compared to other Given members and undesirability from Akihiko began to fester after hearing Aki in bed with an unknown woman on the phone.

So when Take-chan says "why not play support for your ex's band?" Haruki feels like he needs a nice change of pace to dig himself out of this disconnectedness he feels with Akihiko and the other two, in his eyes, "geniuses" in Given.

Disconnectedness caused him to avoid his issues

It is interesting to note that Haruki did admit that he was running away from his problems upon reflection as to why he wanted to play support. I will touch on that in just a second.

Haruki's Band = Family

When Haruki was at peak anger with Akihiko for rejecting him and hurting him, Haruki still allowed Akihiko to stay and said

"If you weren't a band member, I'd throw you out"

in Chapter 21. This is so telling of how much Haruki values the band like how he values a family. At the point when he's the most hurt, he is able to extend an olive branch to Akihiko. I think Haruki really means it when he said if it's not for the band, he would have kicked Akihiko out. This means that Haruki has a

very strong sense of family values where he prioritises the bond of the family before his own anger/resentment.

Disconnectedness -> staying and healing his "home"

I have seen some annoyance from fans about the fact that Haruki held off on playing support until Akihiko had moved out was because Haruki is too "Akihiko" smitten or Akihiko is being controlling over Haruki.

I don't think so at all. He realised he was avoiding his issues. And so he decided he would stop and stay.

Haruki at his core sees the Given band as a home that he established for the band members.

This bottom panel in Chapter 13 is so telling. Additionally, it demonstrates to us another really important thing about Haruki.

Haruki is concerned about keeping up with appearances. (a good thing and a bad thing in my eyes)

Haruki really HATES it when people can see through him feeling insecure or lame. So it's interesting to note, Haruki felt vulnerable when Mafuyu did this in Chapter 26.

Here he was seen through by his Given son Mafuyu! (haha) That's why he was lying or trying to convince himself that he had given up on those feelings while AT THE SAME TIME, he was also to keep up appearances with Mafuyu. (Mafuyu sees straight through it though LOL, he's one perceptive bean).

So when Haruki decided to not play support,

1. Haruki was rehabilitating the dynamics of the band that had been shaken. Haruki was prioritising the upcoming CAC performance by healing the home that he has built.

2. Akihiko is going though a bit of a healing period, and Haruki by nature just wants to prioritise his Given family's needs.

3. And also remember for Haruki,

music is about communication.

While Haruki can't openly admit to Mafuyu and Ue that he's been shaken, he wants to make things ok for his Given babies, Mafuyu and Ue. Funny thing tho is Mafuyu probably already knew from the start and Ue although dense AF but can tell that the music has been a bit cooked being the musical genius that he is.

So Haruki uses music as a language to rehabilitate the overall sound and vibe of the band, especially since he is the band founder.

(Lmao Haruki is the mum in the family that doesn't want the kids to worry about the parents having a divorce T_T trying to convince them that it'll be ok) And then when Aki and Haruki's anger have sorted of dissipated and they developed a bit of a routine at home, it definitely comes across in their music as they are now playing a lot more in sync.

After Akihiko moved out, Haruki did play support for another band for a little bit. That was after the CAC so the most intense performance of the year for Given was over and Akihiko seemed to be back on his feet so no longer needed Haruki's support. But Haruki did play support I think to continue to distract and heal from Akihiko. Through Haruki's narration, it wasn't a significant event, it was glossed over and thought of as temporary at the end of the day, the Given band is still top priority.

Why the Given the band is so important to Haruki

Haruki's old band started to disband and while he could have potentially joined Take-chan's or another friend's band, he was determined about starting his own band

Met Ue, thinks Ue is so cool and knew from the start that he wanted to make Ue "feel at home" if Ue were to start a band with him

Realised that Akihiko carried a snare and gathered up the courage to ask him if he were a drummer

Proactively rounded up Ue and Akihiko to start the Seasons

Saw how much passion and drive Ue invested into the band since Mafuyu joined and actively gave direction for the band to join social media, live shows and competitions

Given the band is the home that Haruki built for the rest of the band members.

In saying all of this, Haruki does seem to only find self-worth when he feels needed by others. The moment when HE FEELS LIKE others don't need him, he sort of stops seeing value in himself. @raine-kai does a pretty good analysis on this here on how it manifests between AkiHaru. This trait permeates throughout Haruki's entire being. He likes being that main person that people rely upon in the environment that he functions in. THIS IS VERY INTERESTING, I WILL REVISIT THIS IN A LATER BLOG.

Uenoyama

Ue has almost the exact same family structure as Haruki, two parents and an older sister! Ue's strictness and drive for music makes him more irritable and less of a peacemaker than Haruki but for the most part, he doesn't have any trouble making friends or having external support systems, until Mafuyu enters his life and he's completely blind-sighted to everything else but Mafuyu's emotional wellbeing. (fuck this is making me cry).

The point in the story where he agrees to play support Uenoyama loves Mafuyu so much but I believe has always felt some sense of disconnection to Mafuyu since the beginning. But I think everything got amplified since their first fight in Chapter 18 and the sleepover in Chapter 23.

He sensed that Mafuyu was still bound to Yuki yet wasn't willing to let him in. Since being re-introduced to Hiiragi and Shizu in Chapter 25, his disconnectedness got even more heightened because they know more about Mafuyu as his childhood friends. Additionally, lately he feels like Kaji is also more committed to his violin practice outside of the Given band.

Disconnectedness causes Ue to want to get closer to Mafuyu

This is where Haruki and Uenoyama really differs in personality. Ue doesn't really run away from his problems like Haruki and he's really honest with himself. For Ue, when he feels this disconnection, this problem, he wants to fix it, he wants to get closer to Mafuyu.

1. So when Hiiragi offered the position to play support, Uenoyama I believe first of all, thinks Hiiragi and Shizu are great musicians and it's fun. Remember, Ue and music is basically synonymous, he has such a passion and drive for music as his core being and function.

2. BUT since Mafuyu came into the picture, Mafuyu has been his core drive for music. So he wants to get closer to Mafuyu, know more about Mafuyu and his past.

But for Ue, he absolutely knows that playing support for SYH is temporary.

Uenoyama's Band = Family Uenoyama is having fun with SYH but it also frustrates him because at his core what would make him the truly happiest is this. He says in Chapter 30:

And when he found out that Given might be able to debut, he literally is SOOO SHOOK. Part of the reason why he's so desperate for Mafuyu to agree to go pro is not only because its metaphorically him wanting to take their relationship to the next step but also he wants to prioritise his Given family first. Just like Haruki, the moment he sees a chance to reconnect with his band, to nourish the dynamics and the sounds, he wants to take it.

Disconnectedness -> wants to give the Given band members space but also UNITE THEM

Ue does not have it easy in these latest chapters. T_T

Mafuyu's hesitation to Given going pro in Chapter 31 is stirring up tension in the MafuYama relationship but also really holding the band back from debut.

In Chapter 40, this urgency for wanting Given to debut, is becoming more intense for Ue. He is reminded that everything will change with Haruki finishing postgrad, Akihiko finishing undergrad and him and Mafuyu about to finish highschool.

HOWEVER, Ue lately is extra invested in SYH is because:

1. Like Haruki, he cares more about his band members than himself. He's trying to hold space for Mafuyu, trying to give Mafuyu the space to think. He also is holding space for Akihiko who is now really invested in violin and Haruki who is busy with post-grad exams. Ue does NOT have a selfish bone in his body when it comes to his Given band.

2. WHILE ALSO trying to REACH MAFUYU and unite Given band with the new Yuki-Ueno song.

Bottom panel Chapter 40, When he says "destroy", he really means✨unite✨. He's a bit of a Tsundere sometimes hahah. But he ultimately loves his Given family.

Ue knows that everything is super up on the air, that's why he's conflicted as well lately. But he cares so much about everyone and their needs but he also wants Given to debut so badly. (my heart aches for that boi).

But still he absolutely knows that his time with SYH is temporary. The moment Given decides to go Pro, I swear we probably won't see him sleep ever again. He'll be playing and composing 24/7.

Why the Given the band is so important to Ue

Ue clashed easily with his previous band probably because he is a bit of an "Ou-sama" when it comes to music (haha)

When Ue joined the Seasons, he found that Haruki and Akihiko were the "easiest to play with"

The dynamics of the band is perfect for Ue. Haruki and Aki, due to being great musicians but also being just that tiny bit older than him, knows how to handle Ue's "Ou-sama" well during rehearsals (LOL)

Mafuyu reignited his passion for music and his drive for creativity and he is able to now play and compose on a whole other level (although I hope that later on, he won't be completely reliant on Mafuyu for creative drive and find passion for music in himself again)

For Ue, no matter what, the studio is a place for music and a place of bonding, a place where he can be himself and spend quality time with the people he loves.

So to summarise,

characters who come from relatively stable familial backgrounds loves their band and apply strong familial values to their band dynamics. They generally have a pretty healthy sense of band = family where Haruki provides a home and Ue shows the passion.

It's also interesting to note that it's Haruki who does most of the admin while Ue who drives the creative momentum because as children from stable families, they use music to HEAL and UNITE their Given family but they also understand when it's important to give space to their band members when necessary. As children from stable families,

they would do anything to hype up their Given family

---

But

Why was Akihiko so triggered when he found out that Haruki was going to play support for his ex girlfriend's band?

Why is Mafuyu so reluctant to go to SYH's debut but also scared to go pro with Given?

All these questions answered in detail in

My Band is my Family Part 2

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Masterlist of my Given Metas

If you like what you read, all I post is basically Given analysis content! Give my blog a follow to be notified of new posts!

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wonlouvre · 3 years

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pairing: doctor!wonwoo x lawyer!female oc genre: modern royalty, arranged marriage, fluff and angst word count: 3.7k WARNINGS: hospital setting, mentions of surgery/operation, blood, violence

a/n: so, this is it guys. the final part of ifliys :( i would like to extend my sincere thank yous to each and everyone who have read, liked, commented and shared this series. this is the very first fanfic i was able to finish/complete because of the support, love and motivation you all gave as i wrote this. don’t worry! there is an epilogue and i will announce what i have in store for them in the near future. in the meantime, this is part ten. thank you very much!

ten: moonlight | masterlist

The Queen is talkative. That’s one of the many quirks she has that you noticed when you were growing up. It’s not the uncomfortable or annoying kind of talkative. You really don’t know how to exactly put it, but she’s talkative in an elegant and easy-going way. One time, she decided to take a walk on a particularly busy street with only one member of the security detail assigned to tail her a few meters behind. She told you the whole story, excitedly. She was casually strolling and asking typical questions like what time is it to some vendors, passersby and the like. She even held a conversation about olive oil that lasted a good twenty minutes until the stranger she was talking to recognized who she was. You can tell that she had a blast as she laughed all through the evening.

Spending time with her gradually dwindled because of your job paired with your official duties as the Crowned Princess. But when opportunity arises, you make sure to make it worth the wait. Conversations are easy with her because she’s trustworthy and most importantly, she’s your mother. She usually asks you random, yet unexpectedly relevant questions whenever the two of you share a cup of coffee or tea or when you go shopping and even now is no different, as you’re about to choose the right fabric for your wedding dress.

“Describe the person that brings the best out of you.”

Ah, here we go. Your mother is surely not distracting you but her intent stares as she props her arm against the armrest of the white couch she’s sitting on is definitely pulling you away from the matter at hand. The look on your eyes is telling her really? and she fires back with an expecting one telling you a silent, “well? Come on. Tell me.”

You snort and shake your head, bringing your attention back to the table. You’re not denying your mother an answer because you know who to describe. It’s not that hard to figure out and you know she’s smart enough to know.

Jeon Wonwoo.

“How do you want me to describe? Personality or physical features?” You ask back and humor her as you fiddle with one lace material.

“Both,” she challenges with a mischievous grin and you’re not one to back down.

“Well, the person is quite tall and sharp in terms of physical features,” you start, doing your best to describe him implicitly. “Has a way with words, but they are all genuine and honest.”

Unbeknownst to you, your mother’s fond smile confirms your assumption that she is smart and that she knows who you’re talking about. But she presses on, loving how you describe this mysterious person.

“What about those features then? How do they help you?”

You thought for a moment and when the right words came to mind, you didn’t hesitate to say, “They inspire me to do and be better not only for myself but for everyone else. Mostly it’s their genuineness and honesty that inspires me.”

You and your mother laugh together at your last sentence.

It’s true though. After witnessing Wonwoo in the light of his Kingdom, something tugged at your heartstrings. You don’t exactly remember when, maybe it was around high school, but you remember adamantly telling your friends that you would want to be with someone that will bring the best out in you. Someone that can fuel your desire to be of service for the greater good. It sounds awfully used too often and you’re sure you’re not the only one who thinks this way, but as you have already said, it’s the truth.

Despite the circumstances, you found that someone. You found Wonwoo.

A few seconds later, Jeongyeon comes in with a knock and announces, “Your Majesty, Prince Wonwoo has arrived.”

Your eyes spring up at the name, distracted once again. And when you see the “tall” and “sharp” Prince, you’re quick to your feet and run towards him. He stumbles a little when you jump at him in a tight hug, arms clinging around his neck. Nonetheless, he smiles and welcomes your enthusiastic embrace with a soft smooch on the side of your head.

“Wait,” you abruptly pull away. “You’re not supposed to be here, though.”

Wonwoo acts dumb, tilting his head to the side. “What do you mean? Her Majesty invited me to be here.”

“Calm down, Y/N,” you hear the culprit say behind your back as she stands up to greet her future son-in-law. “There’s no dress yet. It’s okay for him to be here.”

You subtly roll your eyes. You’re not one to be superficial but if there were a dress already, she’d take her words back. You return your arms back to Wonwoo’s waist and lean your chin against his chest, your lips pulling into a pout. He leans down to meet your lips with a quick peck but your mother was quicker to push you aside and to take her turn in giving him a hug.

Your jaw drops and your pout is exchanged with a scowl.

Wonwoo tries his best to hold his laughter but to no avail, fails as he formally greets the Queen. “Good afternoon, Your Majesty.”

“Always good to see you, my Prince,” the Queen replies and gently pats his cheek. “And now that you’re here, I can finally take my leave.”

“Leave? We haven’t even picked a fabric yet,” you remind her and stand in between them.

“Honey, you have been going back and forth since nine in the morning,” she retaliates and walks back to the couch to pick her bag up. “Let’s schedule for another day. Unless you want Wonwoo to leave and we continue.”

Your stance immediately takes a hundred eighty degree turn. “You know what, you’re right. Let’s clear Saturday next week and we’ll take it from there.”

“I thought so.”

With a knowing wink, the Queen takes off.

That memory was from about three weeks ago after your visit and vacation at Wonwoo’s Kingdom. Wedding planning was back and the two of you went your separate ways for the time being to prepare your respective attire and accessories. Wonwoo didn’t know you had that conversation with the Queen not until she told him here at the hospital where you lie unconscious and fighting for your life.

The Royal Hospital was once again swarmed with a plethora of men in black suits because the Crowned Princess of the Kingdom has been shot twice, one on her shoulder and another on her left leg. It was a failed attempt in assassinating the King but Kim Mingyu took the opportunity to target your vulnerability and let his men shoot you instead as if it was his plan b. Kim Mingyu, whom he never desires to meet, is finally in police custody. He didn’t try to elude his impending arrest. In fact, he knew he would get arrested. He just wanted to toy with people until he couldn’t anymore.

Wonwoo has no words to spare to describe him and seeing his face and hearing his name everywhere and everytime is just making his blood boil.

The Queen has never left the hospital from the moment she arrived while you were undergoing operation up to being placed in a private room. She was calm when Wonwoo stood up from the bench to respectfully address her. She just nodded her head when he couldn’t say a word without his lips trembling and enveloped him in a warm hug as he cried on her shoulder.

She told him that the two of you haven’t spoken since your father’s arrest and it has been unbearably painful and challenging. She acknowledges how terrible and neglecting she has been as a mother when she knows how absolutely difficult this is for you. It’s even more heartbreaking because you never once complained. Instead you respected her silence and distance. She regrets her absence and seeing you lying on a bed, looking so cold and fragile is making her world completely fall apart.

“Wonwoo, I’m so sorry that this happened,” the Queen solemnly says and holds his hand tightly. “The Kingdom promises that everyone involved will be held accountable.”

Wonwoo nods. “I understand, Your Majesty. Our Kingdom will do so as well.”

“I also want you to know that Y/N never wanted to end the engagement,” she adds. “She was just afraid that someone like her doesn’t deserve to receive your love.”

Wonwoo didn’t know that you looked up to him. If anyone should be admired, it should be you because you were ready to drop everything just to uphold justice. It’s been three days after the operation and you still haven’t opened your eyes. The operation was successful. No artery nor major organs were damaged, but you did lose a lot of blood. Just like the Queen, Wonwoo has been by your side, patiently waiting. Right now despite your stable condition, he still feels like dying.

The love of his life almost died before his eyes.

Wonwoo rests his head on the small space beside your arm, similar to the first time he took care of you a few months back. He gazes at your peaceful face, silently begging for you to wake up. He wants to kiss, hear and hug you again. He wants to be with you again.

“Wonwoo.”

He sits up straight at the sound of his name and finds the Queen sadly smiling at him.

“How about you go back to your apartment for today?” She suggests, taking the seat on your other side. “Take a long shower and have some shut eye? Hmmm?”

Wonwoo bites his bottom lip, hesitant to leave and not have his eyes on you. He badly wants to stay and be here when you finally wake up. But the Queen is right. You’re safe now so he has nothing to worry about anymore.

Slowly, he stands up from the chair he’s been sitting on for who knows how long. He clasps his one hand around yours while the other sweeps the hair that’s covering your forehead and lands a gentle kiss there. You’re starting to warm up and that’s a relief.

He talks to you every single day, hoping you’d hear his voice. For now, he’ll keep it to himself.

I love you.

Later in the evening, you find your mother quietly dozing off, her head swaying from left to right and vice versa as she remains upright on the couch placed near the wall. You blink your eyes and adapt to the sudden brightness greeting your senses. You try to move your head and take in your surroundings and after a few minutes of contemplating, you recognize where you’re at and remember everything.

Dad.

Your violent gasp immediately roused your mother from her sleep and seeing you struggling to sit made her jolt up and hurry beside you.

“Darling,” she calls and holds your thrashing arms down, worried that you’d worsen your wounds. “It’s okay. You’re okay.”

“Dad,” you voice out against the dryness of your throat. “Mom, where’s dad?”

“He’s okay too.” You can see the tears welling up on her eyes as she caresses your hair and gently pulls you in a hug. “He’s safe.”

Together, you shed the tears of anguish that you have been holding back for so long.

The King couldn’t be here because the court didn’t allow his appeal to accompany nor visit you even just for a day. He couldn’t even carry his daughter’s body to the ambulance because he was handcuffed and heavily guarded. He couldn’t even protect his daughter from the harmful consequences of his mistakes. Your mother told you that he desperately wants to be by your side and you do know that. You’re way past his inability to be here and that’s none of your concern anymore. As long as he is safe, you’re more than content.

The trial has been rescheduled for next week and your father has to be detained until then. You’ll try to visit him again once you’re discharged and together with that, you’d also find the strength to accompany him at his trial.

Your mother was firm on staying and insisting that she’s fine when you tried to urge her to go home, but you can clearly tell how tired she is from the lack of sleep so you didn’t let her win. It’s already late in the night when she finally gave in. Your mother kisses your cheek one last time after the doctor assessed your condition. Jeongyeon would stick around for the evening in her stead. Poor girl cried so much the moment she saw you widely awake.

Once it’s only the two of you left, Jeongyeon helped you sit on a wheelchair and wheeled you next to the window before she left to grab some extra bottled water. You can’t stand properly yet because of the wound on your leg so a wheelchair is necessary if you want to be mobile. You’re starting to feel the back pain after lying down for so long, you need to move. The doctor was a bit apprehensive about allowing you to leave your bed, but gave in when you promised to stay inside the room.

The moon, shining in all its glory, up in the dark sky looked so enticing, you had to take a closer look. The three days went by so fast and running through all that ensued leaves a sickening sensation down to your stomach. You shake your head, not wanting to relive the frightening memories.

Your attention goes back to the moon and one person comes to mind.

It makes you selfishly wonder if he ever visited once or asked and worried about you as you bring your hand up to your neck. When you don’t feel the lifebuoy pendant, your heart skips a beat. You then looked down to your hand, your engagement ring is also not on your finger. You frown, growing upset. They could have removed it, but it should be back to you by now. You looked around the room, hoping to find your precious gems within reach. Just in time before you could wheel yourself around to search for them, you hear the door open.

“Hey Jeongyeon, have you seen my necklace and ring?” You ask to the void as you tilt your head back to the moon.

When you don’t hear any answer other than the sound of heavy breathing, you remove your gaze from the window to see who came in if it’s not your assistant. To your surprise it’s no other than,

“Wonwoo.”

Wonwoo didn’t keep count of the exact times, but he knows how long and how much he begged just to hear your voice call his name once again. He didn’t even have the chance to change from his sweatpants and sleeveless shirt when he received the call from Soonyoung (whom Jeongyeon told to). Honestly? He didn’t bother at all because he just wanted to be right here at this moment.

To be with you.

He takes slow steps as he calms his breathing. Meanwhile, you remained seated and let him come to you. You’d run to him just like you did back then, but your leg wouldn’t appreciate that.

It felt like forever for Wonwoo to get to you. But when he finally drops on the floor and lightly rests his head on your lap, there’s no reason for him to complain anymore.

Your tears fall again for the nth time tonight. You caress his wet locks, probably from the mixture of his shower and sweat. He cries too because you can feel it seeping against the pants you’re wearing. He wraps his arms around your lap, careful from crashing his weight. You, on the other hand, bend your head down to kiss the crown of his head.

Both of your hearts are shouting, finally.

The beautiful moonlight shines on the two of you as you both silently settle down there for a moment, not giving a care in the world because this is just what you’ve been yearning for and you’re not allowing anyone nor anything to steal this away ever again.

Your long face doesn’t go unnoticed by Wonwoo and he knows why you’re pulling it against him. But no, he is not falling for it. Instead he ignores your silent plea and continues tucking you back on the bed. You glance up at him and try to win him again with your attempt at puppy dog eyes and when he doesn’t, you give up.

“You know that this bed is too small to fit two bodies, Y/N,” he states the obvious and drags a chair to sit on. “I know you’re smart enough to see that.”

You huff and pull the covers closer to your chin. If it wasn’t for the wound on your shoulder, you’d turn your back against him.

Wonwoo just rolls his eyes at your antics and holds your hand under the warm blanket.

After your short reunion, Wonwoo decided to get you back to your bed because it was nearing one o’clock in the morning. You haven’t brought up what happened and it’s alright because you still have another chance to do so. Hopefully.

“I’m sorry, Wonwoo,” you whisper under your breath but his ears can hear your words.

He nods and kisses the back of your hand. “I know, baby. It’s not your fault.”

Baby.

You never use pet names or terms of endearment and hearing him say it for the first time almost made you faint. It’s an exaggeration but you’re weak at the moment and anything that flusters your heart can potentially weaken your whole body.

Wonwoo then brings something out from his pockets and your eyes brighten at the sight of the necklace he gave you. He chuckles when he sees your excited expression and stands up. His fingers tenderly graze the skin of your neck when he puts it back to where it rightfully belongs.

“I thought I lost it,” you say, holding the pendant between your fingers.

He sits back down and what he mutters next makes you feel a twinge of guilt.

“I thought I lost you.”

You sigh and coax him to you, grasping the hand enclosed to yours. “Come here.”

This time you let him take the small space on your bed. You sit up as well so that you can reach his height. He helps you and once you’re comfortably situated, you wrap your arms around his waist and rest your head on his chest.

Wonwoo smiles at your affection and lets his hand smooth against your hair. You have always been brave when it comes to touching him and he’ll never forget how you kissed him on the lips first. He’s so glad and relieved you’re finally awake. He doesn’t think he can go on for another day without you. And now that you’re holding each other like this, he wishes for this night to never end.

“I’ll probably not inherit the throne,” you say against his shirt. “I don’t think your family would want you to marry an abolished monarch.”

Wonwoo’s hand drops and he breathes out a disappointed sigh. He is not having this conversation with you right now. Why must you ruin the moment?

When you don’t feel his hand against you anymore, you look up and steal a kiss under his chin. However, that doesn’t suffice because he’s still upset and it’s evident on the frown adorning his handsome face.

“But I realized I love you, so if it means I have to beg all the way to their Majesties for your hand then—”

Wonwoo doesn’t let you continue and shuts you up with a searing kiss. He softly squeezes your cheeks with one of his hands, almost as if commanding you to pucker your lips. Your eyes widened in surprise but when he put his other hand at the side of your neck, you surrendered.

It’s no secret that you and Wonwoo kiss. Oftentimes they’re just quick brushes, but sometimes they get a little bit more intense, deeper. You won’t get into detail though, because that’s a story to tell for some other time.

For now, you eagerly meet Wonwoo’s passion as he lays you back down on the bed, of course with caution. He doesn’t fully drop his weight on top of you, one arm carrying his upper body while the other gingerly cupping one side of your face.

His chest is firm and his shoulder broad as you grip your hands on them and continue kissing him. You should be asleep by now because you are still recovering. But Wonwoo is a doctor himself, right? So if he took the initiative to kiss you until sunrise, then it must be alright.

Okay, maybe it’s wrong to mock his profession like that. But, you’re just grateful to kiss him like this again. Because the last time you shared one, tears were streaming down your face and you two were on the verge of breaking up.

“I should really put you to sleep now,” Wonwoo whispers against your lips, breathless.

You hold your laughter, still basking in his taste. When you open your eyes, Wonwoo is already hoisting himself back up. Your lips draw into a pout again and the cause of it just rolls his eyes.

“I promise there will be more, but for now rest, okay?” He pinches your cheek lightly and sits back on the chair.

“You can take the couch,” you tell him.

“Sleep, Y/N.”

You no longer defy and close your eyes.

You remember the first time he commanded you those words and looking back, they are all fond memories of your then developing relationship. There were many questions when you and Wonwoo got along so well and so fast. There were many doubts and insecurities. The two of you shared those in silence, which could have endangered your hearts. However, even though your relationship was shaken and tested, the two of you persevered.

For you, Wonwoo persevered and words and actions are not enough to thank him. You couldn’t have overcome this without his support and patience. So from now on, against all odds, you’ll do exactly the same.

#seventeen #wonwoo #wonwoo scenarios #wonwoo scenario #seventeen scenarios #seventeen scenario #wonwoo imagines #wonwoo imagine #seventeen imagines #seventeen imagine #wonwoo fanfic #seventin fanfic #seventeen fluff #wonwoo fluff #fic: ifliys

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vaguely-gestures-to-the-void · 3 years

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Hindsight: My thoughts on Loki (2021)

As always, thanks for being here my friends. There’s definitely more nuanced discussion of this show, but I’m here for the vibes. Anyways, here’s my thoughts on Episode 3 of Loki. Bear in mind I hadn’t watched episode 4 before I wrote the review for 3. No hate on anyone/thing, it’s all my opinion.

Episode 3: LAMENTIS

Pre-title scene

I rioted when I heard Hayley’s voice. It’s a win for all of us.

C-20! Sylvie!

C-20’s lil dance was adorable. I love her.

I want Sylvie’s tie dye.

Is that Ralph Bohner?

The same place, but at night. Coincidence? I think not.

Sylvie’s powers have limits. She can’t search someone’s mind and take information, she needs them to willingly tell her though she can use her powers to do that.

TVA

Sylvie’s experienced. Always tie your hair into a bun before a fight.

Her music is nothing like what we’ve heard previously. It’s the Sylvie show folks.

The mural on the left side of the hall is the one from the credits scene.

The plaque above the elevators says ‘FOR ALL TIME ALWAYS’.

Even in the mural on the right side, the Time Keepers aren’t equal, the middle one takes up the most space.

Ravonna!

I love how their movements are similar. The head-snap-hair-flip combo is nearly identical, reflecting how they are the same person to some extent.

2077 Lamentis - 1

“Get off my leg!” SiblingTM energy.

“Goodbye, variant.” She sure has the Loki drama.

I finally remembered it’s called a TemPad. Rip.

“Don’t ever call me that.”

“Tech savvy?”

That’s so Ragnarok.

I love the music as we pan up to the planet. It’s the familiar, anxiety-inducing ticking for me lads.

“You idiot! This is Lamentis - 1.”

“I don’t know what that means!”

My siblings when I can’t restart the router (every country has an AT&T).

I like that it’s a moon that’s inhabited. It’s nearly always the planet, still not great for the people on it.

That slide to get under the dump truck was so smooth.

“So we’re a team now?” Jesus Loki needs friends. Probably a good therapist too.

“Didn’t need your help!”

“You’re so weird!”

I like the way Tom runs. Don’t know why. Just do.

Sidenote, my favourite running form is Chris Evans’.

Sylvie’s magic flickered so I genuinely think the enchantment didn’t work.

“Well then I’ll cut it out.” I like the way she says that. I am questioning so many things rn.

“Just because I have to work with you doesn’t mean I wanna hear your voice.” It’s ironic since they spend so much time talking about themselves.

“Alright, well, slow down… Variant.” They really play off each other’s egos to find weaknesses.

“You don’t know what you want.” Sylvie’s more straightforward in everything she does. She efficiently points out Loki’s flaws but when it comes to a goal, she’s meticulous.

“...just walk away.” Loki stops walking, but Sylvie does walk away. There is distance between them (for now).

I’ve had experience with mining towns like this one and whilst they weren’t so out-of-this-world (ya know) there is a tendency for rural and isolated communities to struggle with old/not maintained infrastructure. This is not everywhere, but it’s not uncommon from what I know. Even though these towns are a source of wealth, there isn’t distribution of the money and it’s a grim reality that’s being shown. I appreciate it.

The shot of them walking past a slab of that planet towards the hut is incredible. Wow.

The person in there is just waiting for their death. I’m going to be addressing a lot of the harsh realities in this episode folks so it won’t be so cheerful.

I understand that people weren’t so happy with this being a filler episode, but I think they got it right. It’s strange that a literal planet-moon collision doesn’t bring the tension that the hurricane did in the last ep, but by having an atmosphere that wasn't so omnius, they conveyed (to me at least) that hope was already lost. In the Roxxcart Disaster, the people believed that it wasn’t going to be the end. There’s desperation on Lamentis - 1 but as Sylvie said, the collapse of society occurs. That’s a large group of people realising that class divides will cause slaughter. It’s greed portrayed in two different ways, one being the integration of excessive capitalism into society, the other being social structure based on oppression. Not everyone’s reading into Loki like this but it’s a change from how Marvel usually approaches conflict.

We learnt about the characters and whilst I’m not a fan of when a plot line is moot (my bet is that Loki and Sylvie will be rescued next ep, making all the attempts to get off Lamentis - 1 pointless), it’s necessary for the characters to develop. The way Loki and Sylvie end up on Lamentis - 1 makes sense and the plot doesn’t feel forced.

“It’s remarkable that you made it as far as you did.”

Devils is recurring in this episode. Maybe this has implications on future episodes?

“Which one was that, diplomacy?” Why are their interactions so funny?

I don’t think I need to comment on the significance of the train station scene.

I would like to acknowledge that though this is good writing that’s relevant in the time it was released, we shouldn’t forget it’s coming from large corporations who aren’t perfect.

How do they just walk past the line?

The people who snitched were right in front of them.

Did the cat get Loki’s silvertongue? That was the most graceless lying I’ve ever seen.

Sylvie not sitting with her back to a door makes sense, but why won’t Loki go backwards on a train? They both have little quirks.

“That’s not a plan. That’s just doing a thing.” Loki went to the Thor school of planning, it’s Get Help all over again.

Loki’s exaggerated nods at the other guards lol.

Sylvie growls whenever she’s mad, it’s hilarious.

The close ups of their faces when the conversation gets personal and isn’t just trading jabs is great for conveying the authenticity of their answers.

Loki not pressing Sylvie when she clearly didn’t want to talk about what happened to her mother is something I appreciated.

Here’s to Tom for having to do magic for more than 10 years now. He’s so serious, I can only imagine how funny it is without the effects.

“Well she did.” Yeesh, has Loki gotten time to grieve?

Sylvie is genuinely impressive.

“Pity the old woman chose to die.”

“She was in love.”

I don’t quite understand what they were talking about then, I guess we’ll find out later?

Loki, why are you so unnecessarily dramatic?

I laughed. Who am I kidding, they’re dorks and I love them.

Loki is trying to find out anything, anyone who could be used against Sylvie.

Here’s to the postman, they’re probably dead but we appreciate Sylvie’s happiness anyways.

“A bit of both. I suspect the same as you.” AND THAT’S HOW YOU WRITE IN REPRESENTATION FOLKS!

Let’s just take our scraps and be happy, eh? It made my week.

They both need real relationships of any kind, guys.

“Love is… uh, something I might have to have another drink to think about.” Me whenever anyone asks me about my love life.

“You do realise… ...a civilisation’s only hope?” I think this was Sylvie’s way of making sure Loki’s (albeit grey) morals and drinking habits don’t interrupt her plan.

The train sure gives me Snowpiercer vibes.

Do I have to talk about Drunk Loki?

Tom’s singing voice is lovely.

Sylvie’s eyes shift nervously to the door and then back to Loki. She’s initially tense but she relaxes slightly though she knows she’s gonna have to clean up the mess.

“Nobody cares. It’s the end of the world.” Again, Loki’s headspace is one where existence is futile.

The green walls contrast the purple lighting nicely.

You can see plants (?) from the outside if you look out the windows. Talk about attention to detail.

Bruh what is the dagger about? Drunk Loki’s a comedic genius.

The descending notes in the background of Loki’s fireworks.

Sylvie’s smile when she goes to attack is animalistic. I’d like to see her character explored more in terms of how she views violence.

YEET.

“You’re right. I’m a god.” Loki’s defense mechanism is to state that his motives are above the understanding of others.

“You’re a clown.” Sylvie tells it as it is.

Loki and Sylvie’s reactions to the TVA contrast the most here. Sylvie is potentially motivated by vengeance or a need for revenge whilst Loki has resigned to numbing the pain (for now at least) as he comes to terms with his reality. The question of what drives you is so important for these characters, I’m excited to see whether they’ll find a common ground and wreak havoc on the sacred timeline.

Loki and Sylvie both struggle with communicating in a healthy way. Sylvie calls him out on his directionlessness and Loki tells her what may be the harsh reality of her plan. Neither of them are willing to accept it, but there’s potential for a strong bond if they do.

Sylvie’s scream lmao.

I love the colour of Loki’s pants.

Problem? Solution! Do thing! Is Sylvie’s method of thinking when all is lost.

Gosh I love the shots in this episode.

“That’s a pretty good life.” Sylvie’s definitely not lived as a royal, or not from what she remembers.

“I just need to know if I can trust you.” Sylvie giving up how she enchants people is an olive branch because as useful as the things that Loki told her may have been for manipulation, they both know the importance of her upper hand. But she only relents once Loki doesn’t have the TemPad. Later, when she asks whether she can trust Loki, it’s more of a reassurance because he’s already been vulnerable around her.

The actor’s body language and facial expressions are incredible. Loki’s eyebrow’s furrow slightly when Sylvie mentions C-20’s mind but Tom takes a second for the information to be processed rather than instantly reacting to Sophia’s next line. She does the same when Loki talks about the TVA workers being created. What skilled people they are.

The city is a wonderful piece of set design.

“We do, and you can.” They step into the light, neither of them have tunnel vision and are able to see a bigger picture.

“They’re gonna let these people die.” This show explores a side of Loki we haven’t seen before, his morality and compassion. He has grey areas that could be explored in the next season. It also points back to how Sylvie and Loki differ in their view of others. I think this is partially because of their childhoods. Loki was raised as a prince and cared about his people, but Sylvie doesn’t share that perspective (“...they usually survive”), maybe because of her past. Hopefully in the upcoming episodes we’ll get a bit more of her backstory.

That sequence is beyond words. The constantly rotating and revolving camera really hammers home that it’s a disorienting fight for their lives at the end of the world. I’m speechless, just watch it.

The music in that blue-purple-pink club was banging tho.

Loki and Sylvie’s posture, facial expression and general body movement is similar. The variant point is hammered home here.

It’s interesting how Loki is in shock/denial of the Ark being destroyed whereas Sylvie immediately leaves.

The end music of this episode is beautiful. I love how it all builds to leave us on the soft tones of Dark Moon.

No one’s interested, but my mum and I bonded over the Jim Reeves version of this song and the Bonnie Guitar one.

Ep 3 review

Short episode with not much going on other than character development. However, if the first two were anything to go by, this episode will have greater implications on the plot. The pacing of this show is a bit strange, but we may see this change in the next season.

I mentioned previously that it would be a shame if the entire plot of this episode was made irrelevant by how they get off Lamentis - 1 next ep. This show has been really good at keeping us on our toes with the writing so they probably won’t take turns that have been speculated.

Happy mid-season guys! The following two episodes were apparently Tom’s favourites so we can expect some mayhem up ahead. See you next time!

Here's the link to my Ep 2 review

#loki #loki review #loki (2021)#i've stayed inconsistent in all these tags and i'm not about to change #my opinion #opinion #loki spoilers #spoilers #spoiler

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mostlysignssomeportents · 4 years

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#1yrago Trump ex-attorney Michael Cohen sentenced: 3 years prison, $500,000 forfeiture, $1.4 million restitution, $50,000 fine

Donald Trump's longtime “fixer” and personal attorney has been sentenced to to 36 months (3 years) in federal prison, plus an additional 3 years of supervised release, in a case in the Southern District of New York.

Judge William H. Pauley of SDNY also sentenced Cohen to 2 months for lying to Congress, to be served concurrently to his primary 36-month sentence.

He also issued an order for $500,000 in forfeiture, payment of $1.39 million in back taxes, and a $50,000 fine.

Judge Pauley also ordered an additional $50,000 fine, for lying to Congress.

There are additional terms of imprisonment, but all will be served by Cohen concurrently.

Cohen will be able to voluntarily surrender, he was not taken into custody as the hearing ended.

— — —

Federal prosecutors asked for a "substantial" prison sentence of about 3 and a half years. Cohen asked for time served. He could face up to five years, based on sentencing guidelines for his crimes.

“We respectfully submit that the case calls for a full consideration of mercy,” Michael Cohen's defense attorney Guy Petrillo said during the hearing.

Petrillo argued that Cohen should receive a lenient sentence in part because Cohen “came forward to offer evidence” against Trump.

"I don't really understand the strident tone of the memo,” Petrillo said, referring to the Southern District of New York's filing.

Implying that his connection to Trump was the reason for the strident tone, Petrillo added, “Mr. Cohen had the misfortune to be counsel to the president.”

This, of course, implies that Cohen's position at Trump's side was not something over which Cohen had any choice.

Petrillo then went on to tell the court that Cohen would be willing to cooperate with ongoing investigations, but that “he is wary of a long term cooperation agreement for personal reasons, and because he wants both to remove himself and his family from the glare of the cameras.”

So, Cohen is unwilling to cooperate.

Petrillo then told the court Cohen could not have anticipated the “full measure of attack that would made against him” by President Trump and supporters, “and those attacks include threats against his family.”

Cohen's attorney ended his remarks asking the judge for leniency: “He's a very good man.”

— — —

Speaking for Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Office, prosecutor Jeannie S. Rhee told the court Cohen provided "credible" and "valuable information" regarding "any links between a campaign and a foreign government."

"Mr. Cohen has sought to tell us the truth," Rhee said.

Rhee also said that Cohen provided information to Mueller's team related to the core Russia-related issues under investigation, but due to the nature of those investigations, declined to further detail.

— — —

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicolas Roos of the Southern District of New York next argued that Cohen's actions harmed the interests of "free and transparent elections, and in committing these crimes, Cohen has eroded faith in the electoral process."

“Deception, brazenness, and greed,” is how SDNY's Roos then described Cohen's conduct, reminding the court of his interference with the election, and long history of willful tax cheating, among other shady business.

— — —

Michael Cohen then stood to speak at the podium, from a prepared statement.

From his speech:

"Today is the day that I am getting my freedom back."

"I have been living in a personal and mental incarceration ever since the day that I accepted the offer to work for a real estate mogul whose business acumen that I deeply admired."

“I stand before your honor humbly and painfully aware that we are here for one reason.”

“I take full responsibility for each act that I pleaded guilty to,” including those implicating the “President of the United States of America.”

"Today is one of the most meaning days of my life."

My "weakness was a blind loyalty to Donald Trump."

"I have chosen this unorthodox path because the sooner that I am sentenced," the sooner I can return to my family.

"I do not need a cooperation agreement in place to do the right thing."

He then mentions his family members, by name, and says he brought pain and shame on his family. Mentions his mom, dad, and children, and says to them "I'm sorry." Long pause.

"The president of the United States, the most powerful man in the world," Cohen said mockingly, "calling me a rat."

He said Trump tried to influence the proceedings that "implicate" him.

He apologized again to his family before wrapping up. His voice cracked with apparent emotion, as he apologizes to "the people of the United States" for lying to us.

"You deserve to know the truth and lying to you was unjust."

Cohen then sat down.

— — —

Then, the sentence was imposed.

Judge Pauley spoke about the "smorgasboard" of crimes involving "deception" and motivated by "personal greed and ambition.”

Quoting Oliver Wendell Holmes, Judge Pauley said of the tax-evasion charges against Cohen, "Taxes are the price we pay for a civilized society."

He said Cohen admitted that he made the illicit hush-money payments "at the coordination with and the direction of Individual-1."

"Each of these crimes standing alone warrant considerable punishment."

Pauley then reviewed Cohen's life, up to the time he began working for the Trump Organization.

"He thrived on his access to wealthy and powerful people, and he became one himself," he says.

Pauley says "the need for general deterrents is amplified in this case."

Pauley, who is from Long Island, adds that Cohen had a "comfortable childhood and had all the comforts of growing up in an upper middle class suburb on Long Island."

Somewhere along the way, however, Pauley says Cohen "lost his moral compass" and chose to "monetize" his closeness to the rich and powerful, via Trump.

Pauley then references the statement from Mueller's team at the Special Counsel's Office that Cohen cooperated on "core topics under investigation," and that the information that he has provided was "relevant and useful."

"Our system of justice would be less robust without the use of cooperating agreements with law enforcement."

Regarding the tax evasion, campaign finance, and false statement charges: "As a lawyer, Mr. Cohen should have known better," Pauley said.

Cohen's cooperation "does not wipe the slate clean."

"This court ... believes a significant term of imprisonment" is justified.

https://boingboing.net/2018/12/12/michael-cohen-sentenced-to-36.html

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franklyshipping · 5 years

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Happiest Day ~ A Markiplier Ego Fanfic

THIS IS FROM A PROMPT FROM THE DARLING 'PROMPT ANON' REGARDING AN EMOTIONAL OLIVER NEEDING COMFORT FROM HIS ANDROID BROS! Lets give the sunshine boy a happy time! LET'S DO IT!

TAGGING: @goog-ler-iplier @googlee-green @google-switchy-red and @googlee-oliver

There was a meeting in session, but not the integral, emo-led scheming meeting that you might expect. This was a meeting to determine something more important than anything else in the world. Google Blue, Google Red, and Google Green were stood in their communal study, facing each other in an equidistant triangle formation. The three of them were not known to be emotional, but this situation had filled them all with the same unpleasant feeling of concern. Because the one of them who did feel emotions, was not having a good time dealing with a select few of them right now. Emotions are gifts, but sometimes the wrong ones can just bury you. Oliver's brothers were not going to let that happen to him.

The worst part was that there was no direct cause of the slumping melancholy that plagued Oliver's system, and because it was internally generated it couldn't be eradicated like a virus that had stemmed from an external source. This would need careful attention....so the brothers had made it their new primary objective to find a solution. They were at the idea generation stage of their objective, potential solutions being blurted out left, right and centre.

'Perhaps his favourite meal done to perfection could help?'

'We could watch the entirety of the Lord of the Rings, the extended edition, and discuss lore in-between disc changes?'

'A trip out to watch a film may be nicer, so he sees the outside world!'

'He adores all infant animals, perhaps acquiring some baby dog and cat ones for him to give affection to would improve his mood?'

Ideas a-plenty they came up with. And reasons against each idea they came up with too.

'He, like the rest of us, technically doesn't need food so the likelihood of rejection is too risky.'

'He already watches the extended editions of the Lord of the Rings regularly once a month, it's not unique enough.'

'The thought of leaving his bedroom, let alone the house, could be too difficult for him.'

'He may be too concerned with the ethical nature of how we sourced any animals, as well as what their foster-care structure is, it could spur more anxiety.'

The three brothers sighed and glared absently, collectively reprimanding themselves for not being intelligent enough to think of something to help cheer up their baby brother, whom they knew better than anybody. They linked their hard drives via their Cloud and decided to brainstorm together, almost as if they were one brain; it was more efficient than talking normally. So far they had concluded that the key to the solution would be a method that would enable Oliver to not think on his melancholy, since it seemed that leaving him to ''stew'', as others had put it, was not a good thing. For once in their lives, the Googles had encountered something with which thinking was partially making it worse. They needed to distract him. They needed to distract him into happiness, bring forth joy in a way that Oliver wouldn't be able to consciously repress. Something that could induce uncontrollable exhibitions of joy like smiling, something that Oliver wouldn't be able to escape.

'Wait....'

'Yes.'

'Of course....it's perfect.'

The three Googles shared smiles and shining gazes as the same idea came to them at once. It was appropriate for Oliver since they knew he wouldn't dislike it, and it would give him something nicer to think about for the next fortnight let alone the rest of the day. The trio set off with purpose. This was going to work. They reached his bedroom door, Blue taking the lead with a soft three-rap knock.

'Brother, may we come in?'

Blue inched open the door so he could pop his head in, the other two trying to peek over his shoulders as he did so. Blue hid the urge to clench his fists when he saw Oliver start to sit up in bed, his movements were sluggish, his face and eyes devoid of colour, his lips devoid of a smile. When Oliver saw his brothers though, he exhibited a little nod; there was that little spark in him that knew that if his brothers were with him, things would never be any worse for him. They all came in and automatically claimed places on his bed to perch on and sit on, Red was perched on the left, Blue perched on the right, and Green was cross-legged at the foot of the bed. After sharing some glances, they decided to get to their point.

'We came up with something.'

Red stated, his eyes warm like fire embers in autumn as he gazed at Oliver. Green followed on, his own eyes carrying the warmth of a forest in spring as he spoke.

'Something that could prevent the unpleasant overthinking and irrationality of the negative feelings you are experiencing.'

Oliver looked between his two brothers, blinking a few times. His curiosity had not completely disappeared from within him of course, but he just lacked the motivation to express it right now, so he stayed silent. His brothers knew they had his attention though, and that was all they needed. Red and Green looked to Blue who leant forwards and placed a gentle grip on Oliver's shoulder; a calming, reassuring grip as he spoke slowly, emphasising that there was no rush here in terms of Oliver's responses. The last thing they wanted was to overwhelm him with obligation.

'We....want to try it with you. Because we love you Oli.'

Oliver froze. That struck something within him. With how his brothers were, he knew that they loved him....but they never said it. Their programming had always been different to his, it was more unnatural for them to so explicitly express emotions, so they always tried to express their little ''feelings'' through actions. Embracing, making drinks and food, helping with projects, those sorts of things. Oliver couldn't believe that....they'd said it. His head had been bowed, but now he looked into Blue's eyes, then Red's, then Green's. Although the words had left Blue's lips, he knew that they were all essentially saying it.

'I....well um, I trust you guys.....s-so okay.'

Oliver spoke slowly, occasionally clearing his throat since he hadn't really managed to bring himself to speak for a while. Blue immediately pressed his forehead against one of Oliver's temples, Red doing the same at the other side of his head whilst Oliver felt Green's hands affectionately rub his ankles. With protective instincts like these it was honestly more accurate to compare them to a great pride of lions rather than meagre humans that they were meant to imitate. And, like lions, the three scheming brothers decided to initiate the first stage of their strike.

'Wh-....a-agh! S-Squishing out the bad stuff doesn't work, I'm n-not a bottle of mustard!'

A series of things had occurred in the process the Googles had devised. First, Green tugged Oliver by the ankles so that he was lying fully horizontal on his bed, after which Green and Blue rolled him onto his front; Oliver's utter confusion meant resistance was minimal. Oliver's words had been spurred by how his crimson brother had decided to also lie on his front....but not on the bed. On Oliver's back instead. Blue and Green maintained their original positions amusedly as they watched Oliver squirm weakly.

'Oh brother, we assure you, that is not our plan.'

Google Blue crooned with a wicked slyness that made Oliver have to repress a shiver; what the hell were they going to do with him? He tried to take his mind back to times when they'd somehow ganged up on him before....but those were happy memories. Oliver's mainframe wasn't quite ready to bring those to the forefront yet, since melancholy was still quite prominent. So Oliver was left in the metaphorical dark. Meanwhile, Blue's eyes were bright as he looked to Red, who was clearly impatient, but that melted into excitement when Blue gave him a wink. If you think that was a signal of some sort....then you're damn right.

'Th-Then wha-o-oho.....mmmnope....n-nohope....'

Oliver clamped his mouth shut as best he could, but he couldn't deny that the feeling of Red's fingertips skittering and scratching at the back of his neck was maddening for his sensors. Basically, not only was Oliver the most emotional Google, but he was also the most sensitive physically; as per tradition, his siblings often took advantage of his cute, quaint ticklishness. That's why they'd decided to use it here and now, they knew Oliver could never last long without crumbling.

'Tell me brother, in percentage form, how much do you want to laugh right now?'

Red's tone seemed innocent, but Oliver didn't have to see his brother to know that he was smirking and hoping to fluster him with a query containing feigned nonchalance. Of course, it worked, and Oliver started giggling almost immediately....but the droid found himself very much in denial that he had broken so soon, and tried to therefore sound strong.

'Z-Zeherohoho! Thihis w-w-wohon't wohohork....'

The added stammers only made his attempt at defiance all the more sweet as he squirmed and tried to scrunch his shoulders. As Red's fingers danced faster, the three captor brothers exchanged grins, before the two observing droids made teasy comments of their own.

'It seems to already be working by my observations....'

Oliver felt his cheeks heat up as he caught the voice coming from his feet, and thus a few whines slipped through his giggles; that spurred Blue to croon in his cool, unique tone that never failed to be shudder inducing.

'How strange, I have come to that conclusion too.'

Oliver screwed up his face and shook his head, the damned incessant scratches making him feel so tingly as he grumbled under his breath.

'Yohohou dohouches....'

Red narrowed his eyes at the insult, and as a subtle punishment moved his blunt nails to the sides of Oliver's neck, which coaxed out squeaks and much harder giggling. Oliver pressed his face into his blankets when he heard his brothers' chuckles all around him, feeling so embarrassed at their mocking. They always did this, and sometimes Oliver was annoyed at how they'd always band together against him to humiliate him and coax out his most extreme emotional responses....well....sometimes. Sometimes is a broad term I mean, now Oliver thought about it the ''sometimes'' was more like an occasional....time....and it wasn't really genuine annoyance that he felt for his brothe-

'Feeling any happier Oli?'

-malevolent teasy unnecessarily sarcastic buckets. Oliver's thoughts tapered off on a slight tangent when Red's taunt acquired his focus. Even amidst mirth, Oliver gritted his teeth; if they were going to be mean to him then why the heck shouldn't he be mean back?

'Ihihi wihill behe when yohou get yohour bIHIG BUTT OHOFF MEHEHE!'

.....now, Oliver's definition of 'mean' is probably different to yours or mine since he's uncensored and really very nice, and his brothers knew of this better than anyone. They knew that the correct term for when Oliver was being 'mean' was actually him being 'sassy', and thus if he was being sassy then his cheeky, vibrant attitude was starting to return, and therefore they knew that they were making the very best kind of progress. They couldn't stop now. If anything they had to increase their efforts so that this hard won progress would not diminish; it was really for Oliver's own good.

'Hmm, a statement of rude negativity, clearly there is more work to be done.'

Blue mused, nodding at Red who withdrew his touch, to Oliver's great relief. Oliver was about to ask what in the hell his cryptic, scheming sapphire sibling meant....but he didn't need to; he felt it.

'WOAH-Heyheyhey-nahahat the fehEHEHEET!!'

It was Green's turn to help is dear little brother, and he was going to put in maximum effort. Green was the master of strength and perfection in strategy. He knew his brother's ticklish spots well, very well, so he knew the exact places to stroke and scribble on his soles to make him squeal and laugh in a wonderfully high pitched voice. It didn't help that Oliver always inspected his synthetic skin and kept it well treated, because it meant Green's fingers could effortlessly tickle and tickle and tickle the soft skin. In terms of teasing, Green brought something more dramatic and playful to the table.

'Aha! The negative mentality feels threatened from attention here! This must be a prime weak spot!'

Green exclaimed with vigour, which made Oliver want to just curl and scrunch up his entire form to hide away from his brother declaring how sensitive he was. He knew that. He didn't need to hear it. Hearing it was just.....evil and flustering and gave Oliver those tummy jitters that always made his smile stay put. Oliver cried out as he scrunched his feet tight, since he couldn't do much else.

'IHIHIT'S NAHAHAT!!'

Oliver's laughter was loud as Green dug into his scrunched up soles, meanwhile Blue raised an eyebrow and leant down near Oliver's head, making sure he was in his brother's eye-line as he murmured.

'You know, as do we, that that's false....you just tried to lie to us, didn't you?'

Oliver's eyes widened as he opened his mouth to try and argue that no, he would never voluntarily lie to his brothers especially when they had him in a vulnerable position such as this. But Red and Green's successive speech meant he had no hope to make an excuse in an attempt for mercy.

'I can't believe our sweet Oliver just tried to LIE to our faces!

'I....I just can't believe it either. This just proves that negative emotions are truly catastrophic, they MUST be obliterated from our brother or his sweet kindness will be forever lost!'

As he emphasised the word 'must', Green decided to pinch and scribble at the vulnerable balls of Oliver's feet; needless to say, he shrieked.

'STAHAHAAAP STAHAHAPPIT!!'

His tormenting trio all cocked their heads at him with simultaneous fondness; if Oliver had seen it he would have probably compared them all to happy puppies, because they did all look exactly like happy puppies. Oliver was thrashing wildly as he laughed, the pitch varying constantly as the torture brought out his wild reactions. Also, along with wild reactions can come some pretty wild words too.

'Hmmm, what's your happiness level at now-?'

'SOHOHOD OHOFF YOHOU RUHUSTY ASPARAHAGUHUHUS!!'

Green had been so smug....until that moment. Blue and Red couldn't hide their snickers, even when Green glared at the pair of them. Yes....maybe the waves in his hair were tighter than the others' and were more like curls, yes he liked the colour green, yes he was sort of skinny and somewhat tall but he WAS NOT A VEGETABLE! He set his jaw as he pulled back Oliver's toes, getting ready to be merciless as he growled.

'Why you little-'

Oliver gasped, eyes watery in anticipation of the merciless attack that he was sure would come. He'd regretted his words as soon as he'd said them and Oliver had been so sure that Green would go ballistic any minute now....any....minute....now? Oliver was left holding his breath. Green wasn't torturing him, why wasn't he torturing him? The answer to that, would be Google Blue. He'd swiftly shifted and placed a hand on Green's shoulder, eyes glinting to dissuade him from his plan. Green had momentarily glared at him....until he received a message from Blue's hard drive and grinned. Blue had a better idea for the finale of their evil-UM...cheer-up plan. Oliver gulped and nervously exhaled when he felt Green's grip on his ankles disappear and Red's form on his back slink away; he was tempted to make a break for it....but another weight had settled on him. Blue now straddled the small of Oliver's back as Red and Green sat on the bed, observing with impatient enthusiasm. Oliver jumped when he felt Blue rest his steepled hands at the centre of his back, and that icy voice rung out once again.

'I think our true course of action is obvious now. The insults suggest that the adverse mood still persists and thus, he is not happy. We must go all out.'

This, whatever this was, was not good. Oliver found himself gently trembling in anticipation, his mind entirely focused on the possibilities of what was in store. Nothing else plagued his mind except the anticipation of being tickled more....I repeat, nothing.

'What d-dohoes that m-mean?'

Oliver jumped when the replies came from the brothers either side of him.

'It means-'

'-you're screwed.'

Oliver didn't quite understand....until Blue's fingers started scratching up and down his spine. Then he understood with perfect clarity.

'AAAHHHH BLUHUHUHUHUEEEYYY!!!'

Oliver's siblings all couldn't help but shiver at Oliver's hysterical shriek, even Blue, since this was a detrimental tickle spot that they all shared. They all knew exactly what Oliver was feeling...and yet they didn't even think about entertaining mercy; not quite yet.

'An affectionate nickname! Keep going keep going!'

Red gasped, smirking as Blue chuckled with a soft shake of his head whilst focusing his scratching between Oliver's shoulder blades; that made him hiccup through his bouncy laughter. The back can be the worst tickle spot if it is a tickle spot for you, because there's no way for you to squirm in a way that could ease the sensations. It's not like a tummy you can suck in, or like a set of little toes that you can curl. It's forever exposed, therefore making you forever exposed.

'NAHAHAHAHA MEHEHEHERCYYY!!!'

Saline fluid was leaking from Oliver's eye sockets as Blue dug into the undersides of his shoulder blades with methodical wiggling fingers, meanwhile Red and Green fidgeted; they found themselves becoming antsy at seeing Oliver cry.....but they trusted that Blue ultimately knew exactly where Oliver's limit was, he was the one tickling him after all. And Blue did indeed know that despite his mirthful weeping, their Oli had a few sparks left in him that could take some more taunting.

'I cannot stop until I'm sure all the negativity has been obliterated from your systems brother, this is for your benefit.'

Oliver wailed as he started using the remainder of his energy to thrash from side to side, oh he was so desperate.

'ITHASITHAS IHIHIT HAHAAASSS!!!'

Oliver trailed off with a loud whine when Blue raked up and down his back, right from the base of his neck down to the small of his back. Blue wasn't going to leave without being thorough, he's very specific and driven like that. However....now I'm looking at this situation...there is a slight difference between the stage of being a driven individual and being an ass of an older brother.

'Are you sure-?'

'PLEHEHEHEEEEASE!!! IHIHIHI LOHOHOVE YOHOHOHOU!!!'

Blue was in the process of crossing the line into the latter stage until Oliver's statement caught him off guard; even though Oliver said this to them a lot, here and now it seemed random....which made Blue realise that Oliver had more to say. He stopped his raking and glanced to his other brothers questioningly, but they merely shrugged; even when observing the scene carefully, they didn't know what Oliver meant either. Oliver's form shivered as he clenched and unclenched his fingers, squirmed, and pumped oxygen into himself....after which he exclaimed why he blurted out something so meaningful during such a goofy situation.

'Ihi.....l-lohove you guys soho m-much....I c-could nehever be sad when you're ahall here....'

That was what Oliver had originally wanted to say, but his powerful laughter prevented his vocals from being able to process six words or more. He'd managed to say it now though, and that's what mattered. It especially mattered because it was true. As soon as his brothers had come to see him, he'd felt less unpleasant. Yes the tickling had made him laugh and grin and forget, but because it was them doing it and they had a loving purpose behind it all....it allowed the nastiness inside Oliver to be properly purged. Oliver loved them so much, not just because they'd managed to help him, but because they'd put so much thought and effort into doing so too. He was about to wipe the generated tears from his cheeks, but before he knew it Blue had slid off of his back and pulled him into his chest. Red and Green had shuffled close and took a cheek each, dabbing away at the tears softly as they smile their smiles.

'We love you too.'

Red whispered, giving one of Oliver's, now dry, cheeks a soft pinch before snuggling into one of his shoulders.

'Always.'

Green ruffled his hair before nestling into his chest with a low hum. Oliver was blushing....wow, he didn't think he'd ever get used to them saying it aloud like that. He was about to hide himself in Blue's chest, before said droid took in a little sharp breath...and whispered.

'And even though there's less of it in the rest of us as there is in you....you bring out the happiness in all of us Oli.'

Aaaaand he was crying again. They all cuddled and nuzzled like a true loving pack until Oliver had cried his last and started whining about how they were crushing all his artificial organs with their death embraces....but they didn't stop. Not for ages. Oliver resigned to himself....that this was now the happiest day of is life so far, because it had started off as the worst day....then his loved ones fought to change it. For him. And won.

HOPE YA LIKED THIS ONE WOOP LEMME KNOW IF YA DID AAAAA LUV YOUS XX

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foxofthedesert · 5 years

Text

Arrow FF | Dinah x Laurel | A Christmas Miracle

A Christmas Miracle, Part 1 - The Pursuit (Click to read on AO3)

Winter has arrived in earnest to Star City, a little late to the party but right on time for the main event. The holidays are right around the corner. Literally. Christmas Eve is already fading into history along with the setting sun.

After a benign autumn, meteorologists had predicted this season would be Northern California cold at worst, which is to say mild compared to the rest of the country with temperatures hovering between the high forties and fifties. Up til now, they'd been spot on with their forecasts. Unfortunately their crystal balls ran out of juice yesterday while today a never ending assembly line of huge gray clouds rolls is currently lazily by, announcing more of the same dreary, wintry weather. If Dinah didn't know better, she'd think it was about to snow. In Coastal California.

Teeth chattering, she tugs her coat tighter around her shoulders to ward off the chill of an uncommonly cold afternoon. This is exactly the kind of shitty weather she thought she left behind when Central City was firmly in her rear view mirror. California was supposed to be sunny and warm, or so said the movies. Well, from where Dinah stands they were lying because she is a bundled up in several layers, a thick coat and scarf atop a sweater and tee with mittens on her hands and woolly socks on her feet, just like she always used to in Missouri.

Dammit. And I just had to wear jeans. Oh well, at least my boots are keeping my toes from freezing.

Cursing the weather and her own foolish choice to be out it in when she doesn't have to be, Dinah curls her shoulders in, stuffs her hands into her coat pockets, and soldiers on. She is on mission right now and has no time to feel sorry for herself.

The sidewalks of the Triangle are bustling with activity in spite of the cold and the waxing evening hour. Shoppers flitting about care little for the rules of polite etiquette in their single-minded pursuit of last minute gifts for their friends and loved ones. Others are meandering aimlessly about, stopping every now and then to gawk at the intrepid shops that bothered to put up decorations or lights or both. Others still have their heads down like Dinah, trying to blend in with the crowd and filter through on their way home or to their jobs. That Dinah's motive for laying low is far less innocuous is beside the point.

Earlier this afternoon she got a surprise call from the District Attorney's office informing her of a prosecutorial change for a current case. Not just any current case, either, but one involving a corrupt, insanely powerful chemical manufacturer based in Gotham which had spread its disease into Star City while the government was occupied preventing one disaster after another. For the better part of a month, Dinah has been grinding through evidence and conducting interview after interview with the one and only Laurel Lance. Since the beginning Laurel has been her partner in overseeing the Ace Chemical case and they were really just hitting their stride on it when the rug got pulled out from underneath her feet. Finally after months of tedious police work and highly stressful court appearances, the CEO and a bevy of her criminally corrupt lapdogs all guilty as sin of dumping toxic waste in the Triangle right on the outskirts of a school zone were fixing to go to jail. Dinah had thought Laurel would want to see it through seeing as she put as many grueling hours in than Dinah has, if not more, ensuring all the I's were dotted and ever T was crossed. With one call from A.D.A Martinez, Dinah was dispelled of that notion and it caught her completely off guard.

The case being pawned off to the longest tenured A.D.A. would not have sat so wrong with Dinah if it hadn't seemed to be as intensely personal to Laurel as it is to her. Normally Laurel Lance acted the prototype of a picture perfect D.A.: a bulldog who is always in control in the courtroom, professional to a fault in the office, and able to politic with the best of them. This case was different, though, even more so than when Laurel went to bat for Oliver while he was still stuck in Slabside. She was burning the midnight oil like never before and spent more hours with Dinah at SCPD going over investigative and arrest reports over and over again until they both had just about memorized them to the letter. Also Laurel's intensity levels were constantly through the roof, and that was saying something considering she is, in every avenue of her life, perpetually cut throat and high strung. Laurel often chastises her staff for no good reason, such as failure to include one minor detail in a relatively inconsequential report due for filing, which is par for the course for a hothead with a combative streak as wide as the Space Needle is tall. But she never did so publicly until working this case. Only last week when one of her paralegals forgot to pass on an innocuous enough message from a DAI, she berated him in front of half the office so badly the poor kid burst into tears, so traumatized that he fled work early and missed the entire next day as well. Once the outrage ebbed, Laurel actually confessed to Dinah that she felt intense guilt over her treatment of that employee.

Laurel Lance. Formerly of Black Siren notoriety. Felt guilty for hurting an underling's feelings. That alone told Dinah how important this case was to Laurel. That she went on to say that this was the first case she'd worked on since assuming Earth-Prime Laurel's life that she categorically refused to lose. Once she went on a bender working on the case, refusing any and all attempts by her employees to get her to go home. Finally after thirty-six hours they called in the cavalry.

"All those people that soulless, greedy bitch made sick deserve justice," Laurel had told Dinah upon being confronted about her obsessive, incredibly unhealthy behavior. "And I'm gonna get it for them. If that means I don't sleep until I get a guilty verdict, then so be it."

If Dinah hadn't put her foot down, she's pretty sure Laurel would have made good on that promise. As it was, she had to all but drag Laurel out of the Court House into the parking garage and then deposit the District Attorney in her shiny new Lexus with perhaps a little less gentleness than was called for.

The point of all this is that Dinah is worried – a lot – about Laurel shrugging off a responsibility she has been obsessing about so religiously over the past two months. Worried that something is wrong or worse, that Laurel has at last fallen off the reformation wagon. Dinah sort of hates herself for jumping to such a cynical conclusion, but there it is. Sometimes those old feelings of bitter acrimony crop up and taint the progress she has made with her former enemy.

Enemy. There's a word Dinah hasn't associated with Laurel in almost two years. Since they teamed up with Felicity to free Oliver from Slabside, she and Laurel have made such significant strides that she would consider Laurel her closest female friend. Which is still sort of shocking when she actually sits down and thinks about where they came from to arrive at what she would categorize as as intimate a friendship as she is capable of forming. No one could have predicted the turn their relationship would take thanks to Felicity's meddling, least of all Dinah, who had once believed the aptly utilized designation of frenemies would be the best she could ever attain with the woman who killed the man she loved. Yet here she is, wading through a sea of people on the streets in ass-clenching cold just to make sure Laurel is alright when she could be at home bundled up on the couch in her favorite blanket sipping on hot cocoa. And it's Christmas Eve for Christ's sake! That alone speaks volumes about how much she actually cares for Laurel.

What's even more amazing is that there is not a shred of doubt in her heart of mind that Laurel feels the same for her. Of course, there is some cause to call that into question, or at least to redefine what care means from Laurel's end. Of late, Dinah has been getting these weird vibes from Laurel, who has started looking at her and even treating her differently than she used to before they tackled this case together. Ordinarily that would be a bothersome development. Except the change is not in a negative direction. If anything, Laurel has been noticeably more attentive and considerate, which when combined with those vibes produce strange feelings and urges in Dinah she has yet to figure out the meaning behind. And that's not to mention what she is supposed to do about this sudden spike of awkward, nervous, excited energy that buzzes between them whenever they are in the same room together. There is a word for it, she is sure, though right now she is not prepared to break out her dictionary so that she can officially print the term on a label to slap upon the deeply complicated relationship she shares with Laurel Lance.

That said, not yet being ready to face what her subconscious has been screaming at her is going on but her conscious has been deliberately and stubbornly annoying does not preclude Dinah from springing into action whenever Laurel starts acting wonky. Such as today when she dropped a case they were both so passionate about for no reason this morning and then inexplicably cut out of work after lunch without so much as an explanation to her immediate subordinate beyond a clipped response, "Worry less about what I'm doing with my afternoon and more about closing this case. Your future here depends on it."

Since getting the call from A.D.A. Martinez, Dinah has been unable to shake a feeling in her gut that something is going on. Something she should be concerned about. So she did what she does best. Pulled rank at the precinct and decided to indulge her nosy side. Leaning upon all she has learned as a vigilante and as a cop, she stalked Laurel on the traffic cams to the street she is currently plodding down, having covered six blocks already, only to lose sight of her at the intersection of Weisinger and Papp. There is only one significant place of interest Dinah can think of at that location, and she cannot for the life of her figure out what Laurel would be doing there. Her gut feeling tells her to follow through, though, so she complies without further complaint other than some more grumbling about the weather.

Upon rounding the corner, Dinah spots the homeless shelter, the city's second largest, and trudges down the sidewalk towards the entrance. Foot traffic here has dwindled down to a negligible amount. Only the inhabitants of the shelter and what few individuals are willing to brave being seen among such a lowly, somewhat dangerous element. Such as Laurel. For whatever reason…

Once perpendicular from the shelter, Dinah quickly cuts across the street when the street traffic gives her a pause. She gives no thought to the fact she, a police captain, has just blatantly broken the law. Jaywalking isn't the first misdemeanor she's committed today and probably won't be the last. Now on the correct side of the street, she picks around the exterior of the shelter until she finds a bedraggled older man perched on a cinder block just inside the alleyway on the east side of the building. Prepared for just this opportunity, she pulls out her badge and then the stock photo of Laurel she'd snatched off her desk.

"Calm down," she says to the startled man warily eyeing her badge – former military judging by his close cropped hair, rigid posture, and army surplus jacket. "I'm not here to arrest you. Or anyone else. What's your name?"

He exhales, fiddling with an exotic, expensive looking watch on his wrist that seems off beyond it being worn by someone without means to purchase it. A second later he offers her a shaky nod, then responds, "Name's Marv."

"Nice to meet you, Marv. I'm Dinah." Dinah's eyes are again drawn to the strange watch, only to have it quickly hidden under a well worn jacket sleeve. For a split second she considers pressing about how a homeless vet came by such an extravagant piece of a bling, only to change her mind in favor of an expedient end to her mission to find out what the hell Laurel is doing here. Now that proper introductions are made, she doesn't feel bad about thrusting the photo of Laurel in his face. "Have you, by chance, seen this woman this afternoon?"

"Yep. That's Dinah. Been here every day this week. First time before eight, though."

Brows searching for her hairline, Dinah almost comments on the name Laurel gave out before she remembers that it actually is Laurel's name. Dinah Laurel Lance. Whose mother's maiden name was Dinah Drake. The synchronicity of those facts alone are enough to keep Dinah awake at night. When factoring in all that conspired to throw them into a collision course trajectory, which they somehow survived only to be caught up in a mutual orbit, she can't help but feel there is some unknown force at work. Call it fate, kismet, destiny or any other whimsical designation, something out there clearly wants her and Laurel close to each other, and Dinah isn't sure how she feels about that. Well, that's a lie. She knows how she feels, just doesn't want to admit it – even to herself.

"What's she doing coming here every night?" she asks around the lump in her throat that often forms when thinking about Laurel. When the man she's questioning shoots her a dryly outraged glare, she quickly amends herself. "Not that I'm judging. Just curious."

Marv accepts her apology with a shrug of his broad shoulders. "No sweat. I was a little skeptical too when she started comin' to help the staff and residents – ya know, pitchin' in where she can. Cookin' and cleanin' and all that domestic shit. Done some electrical repair work that needed doin'. Good at it, too. Also did most of the decorating for Christmas. Real talented gal."

Dinah's eyebrows shoot up into her hair line. Laurel Lance cooking and cleaning and fixing stuff and...decorating for Christmas? She fights the urge to pinch herself to make sure she isn't dreaming.

Marv laughs at her expression. "Don't blame ya lookin' that way. When she pulled up in that fancy car and came stridin' through the doors in that expensive suit, I figured she was some politician out for a photo op or somethin'. Only never was no cameras or reporters around and she outworked everybody the four hours she was here. And the next time she showed up, she dressed down for the occasion. To fit in better, ya know? Worn out tee, ripped jeans, nose ring, hair braided up nice and tight. Got down in the trenches without a single complaint. Nothin' like the high class bitch that strutted her fancy ass into a world she don't belong in. Nah. Figured out right quick she belonged alright. Just hides it real good out there." He indicates toward the wider world by a tip of the chin. "Good heart in that one, too. She don't know I know, but she's helped more'n a few us land jobs that start up after the Holidays. Like Jordie and Lew. I, uh, I'm one of 'em, too. Asked the guy who hired me why he did it. Wouldn't say anything except a pretty lady who has a way with words convinced him to give me a chance, that he wouldn't regret it. I knew who it was just like that." He snaps his fingers to accentuate the point.

Dinah hardly knows what to say to what she's heard. Never has she been given a less Laurel-like description, and yet she can sense beyond all doubt that she is being told the truth. The paradox being presented to her is confusing as all hell, and it only incites her curiosity into irresistible fascination. Another layer of the Laurel onion is being peeled away right before her very eyes and she is a captive audience spellbound at the unraveling.

"Wow. Uh...I have to say that surprises me," she says after a brief moment of speechlessness. "That doesn't sound like the Lau -" she stops herself short of giving out Laurel's name out of respect for her privacy, "Dinah I know."

"Guess that means you don't know her like you thought," Marv says, eyeing her wryly. "You showed up looking for her, though, which means she's awful important to you. What're you her girl or somethin'?"

"No!"

The denial comes a little too quickly and too defensively and too disingenuous underneath the abrasiveness for Dinah's liking. Her poor reaction only serves as an additional reminder that she is all too aware of her feelings for Laurel and is in that stage where she just can't accept them. Their ugly past is the main obstacle, and that should be enough, right? There is enough baggage between them to fill up the terminal in the O'Hare Airport claim center.

And then there is the fact that Dinah is pretty sure Laurel is straight. She has caught Laurel checking a few ladies out here and there, but chalked those smoldering glances up to either zealous admiration or incendiary envy. Most of the ogling Dinah has caught Laurel doing has been directed toward one particularly unavailable man who just so happens to be married to her closest friend on this earth and who treats her like shit most of the time – the latter of which seems aligned with Laurel's history of being attracted to men who treat her like shit, which is another subject Dinah would rather not dwell on to keep her blood pressure in check. Not that Dinah can use any of this evidence as definitive proof that Laurel is, in fact, straight seeing as the same could be said of her.

In so far as her friends-slash-teammates know, she has only dated men when that is not quite the truth. In college she had several experimental hook ups with hot coeds from other sororities, one of whom was a steady girlfriend for nearly a year whose name was Lynne. It was Lynne who helped Dinah sort through the mess of her emerging identity to figure out she was actually bisexual and not simply going through a phase. Since then she has primarily dated men since that is her preference, but she has slept with a few women in between boyfriends, the most recent a one night stand in Hub City right before Oliver Queen interrupted her misguided quest for vengeance. That said, Laurel has been the first she's thought of the way she did Lynne, and even then the comparison is lacking. What she feels for Laurel rivals how she felt about Vince when he stopped being her undercover partner and became her lover. And that frightens Dinah so badly that every time the thought crosses her mind she panics and quickly stuffs down all of those complicated feelings Laurel provokes.

Sucking in a breath through her teeth, she lets it out slowly to compose herself before giving a more rational response. "I mean...I know her, yes. We work together. We're also friends. Of a sort. I just..." she trails off into a sigh. "Look, it's complicated. And not that it's any of your business but I was worried about her. She took off from work early, which she never does, and then abandoned a case really important us both. Seeing as she has a penchant for self-destruction, here I am."

After a contemplative hum, Marv nods to himself. "So she is some sort of bigwig politician."

"How do you figure that?"

Marv chuckles drolly. "Ain't hard to figure out. To be workin' with a police captain – got that from your badge by the way – she has to either be a cop or someone real important. And she ain't no cop. Heard her let loose some salty language about some of y'all. Don't leave much else possible. Lawyer, I'm guessin'. No, wait." He snaps his fingers again, eyes alighting. "Now I know why I though she looked so damn familiar. She's the D.A. ain't she? What's her name? Laura? Laurel! That's it. Laurel Lance. Well. I'll be damned."

The expression of utter amazement upon Marv's face is mirrored in Dinah's. "You and me both buddy," she says, taking a pause to process all she's learned. That Laurel has been volunteering at a homeless shelter for the past two weeks. That while still her sassy self, the Laurel that threaded in so seamlessly into the upper echelons of Star City society just as fluidly accommodated to the acclaim-repellent, elbow-grease-required strata of the most humble of the most humble that the mass production and low human value culture of America can produce. Laurel has also made another and even more drastic transformation in shedding the cold, calculating, vicious skin of Black Siren only to casually adopt the fully functional, productive citizen persona of the woman so beloved by so many a statue was built in her honor as if it were no big deal at all. All taken together, her series of adaptations is in Dinah's estimation an accomplishment of which few aside from the most elite social chameleons can boast.

All of that begs the question: who is the real Laurel Lance? And that is a question to which Dinah has no answer except to say she is dying to find out. Laurel is a jigsaw puzzle with a million jumbled up, radically disparate pieces spilled out before her as if to taunt that part of her brain that craves a challenge. Solving the unsolvable was one of many reasons she decided to become a cop after serving her enlistment in the Marine Corps, and there aren't many she's encountered that have her more vexed – and more invested – than Laurel.

As much as she would love to say that was the only reason she's out here in the tit-freezing cold talking to a complete stranger, her heart is not absent of engagement in the mystery of Laurel, either. Something about Laurel has tugged at Dinah's heartstrings for a long time now, since far earlier than their detente to aid Felicity's quest to exact vengeance upon the Dragon and the subsequent cooperation to free Oliver from prison. Maybe it was watching a shell-shocked daughter silently grieve when Quentin died while maintaining a facade of strength in support of a sister she didn't even know. Or maybe it was watching her, with Quentin's devoted fatherly guidance, slowly but surely step out of the inky blackness she inhabited out into the light of a nascent dawn and prove one day, one act, one speech at a time that there really was a fleshly, beating heart in her chest capable of great warmth that courses with red blood that bleeds like every one else upon the infliction of a wound. Or maybe, just maybe, it was getting to know the woman behind the innumerable masks and finding her to be as infinitely interesting, and surprisingly funny and charming on top of that, as the projections she offers up to the world to protect a heart that is far more fragile than she could ever bear to admit. Whatever the cause, there is no denying that Laurel has – probably without even trying – slipped past Dinah's own inner defenses and taken up residence in a place precious few have ever occupied.

"So, is she still here?" Dinah asks after deciding she best not think too much longer about this lest she become unnerved and tuck tail to run for the hills. Which is distinct possibility as scary as these unfurling feelings for Laurel are.

As if ignorant of her internal turmoil, Marv nods sharply, then indicates back toward the building with his head. "Yep. You'll find her inside. In the kitchen probably. Or out serving. Dinner ran over 'cause she got here a little late. All she did, wasn't right to start without her. Worth the wait though. Prime eatin' in there."

"Glad to hear it." Dinah means that in more than one way, though she declines commenting along those lines out of curiosity as to why Marv here is out in the cold with her instead inside and warm tucking into some dessert or something. "By the way, why aren't you inside? Gotta be better than freezing your ass off out here, especially if the food is as good as you said it was."

In response, Marv grins as he gives his belly a satisfied rub. "Already been through the line. I'm stuffed, and it can get loud in there, so I came out for some peace and quiet. Besides, it's a nice evenin'. I'm from New York, ya know. This cold reminds me of home."

"Missouri here by way of St. Louis." Select few outside of Team Arrow know that about Dinah, and that prompts her to wonder why she feels so comfortable sharing it with a total stranger. There is just something about Marv that she can't quite put her finger on. Something familiar. Hmm. "Gotta say, I don't miss the winters down there and they're a far cry from what y'all get in New York," she then adds as she studies the older gentlemen, noting his features remind her a bit of her grandfather, which satisfies that pique of curiosity for the time being.

"Yeah," says Marv, one corner of his lips quirking up just like Laurel's do – a ridiculous comparison that comes out of left field and is swiftly dismissed by Dinah. "But it ain't Christmas less it's cold, you've been fed like a prince, and you're with family. Guess two outta three ain't too bad for a washed up old vet."

Dinah's heart goes out to Marv. She knows the loneliness of having no roots left to speak of worth contacting this time of year. An only child of two only children, her mother's death the year she enlisted signaled the end of any familial obligations. So she cut clean after her discharge, moved to Central and never looked back. Thankfully she has since discovered a new family in Star City, one she did not inherit but chose of her own volition. Also known as the best kind of family.

"Not bad at all. I don't have any family left either. Gotta take what you can get around the holidays, right? Also, you're not all washed up. You figured my rank out with a single glance at my shield."

"My eyes still work. It's the rest of me that don't. And no offense, Cap, but that question you asked me earlier can apply to you, too. What the hell're you doin' standin' out here in the cold yappin' with an old geezer like me? Didn't you come here for a reason?"

Brow raised at his cheek, Dinah nonetheless shifts nervously from side to side. "Yeah. Yeah, I guess I did. Just..."

"Not what you expected to find, eh?" Marv interjects, rich green eyes twinkling in amusement. "Looks like your girl's got some surprises up her thousand buck sleeves."

"That she does. And I told you, she's not my girl."

Marv chuckles amiably at the denial that rings hollow to them both despite it being the truth. Laurel may not be her girl, but Dinah is increasingly becoming aware of the fact that she wants her to be.

"Yea, sure," he says. "Keep tellin' yourself that, Cap, maybe some day you'll convince yourself." Abruptly he shifts on his cinder block throne, clears his throat, and just like that Dinah knows the conversation is about to be over. "Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to enjoy a few minutes of that peace and quiet I came out here to get before I go back in and rejoin the rabble."

Dinah holds her hands up in surrender, recognizing the dismissal not as a suggestion but as the command that it is. "Alright. Message received." Unwilling to depart just yet for the fondness for this man she has so swiftly developed, she hesitates for a second as her analytic brain sifts through various potential scenarios in which they might meet again. For a variety of reason, not the least of which is statistical probability, most of them aren't good. "Listen," she says after the silence stretches out too long, causing Marv to arch a brow impatiently. "Stay out of trouble, you hear? I don't wanna see you in my station for any reason. Got it?"

Her reply is a mock salute and an equally sardonic, "Sure, boss. No need to worry, though. I don't got any plans to get locked up until at least the New Year. But I'll be sure to target your precinct if I change my mind just for the repeat pleasure of your company."

Recognizing the joke at her expense, Dinah rolls her eyes and quips, "In that case I'll keep the cell warm I reserve for unrepentant smart asses," before swirling to beat a hasty retreat. Back at the alley entry, she veers in the wrong direction only to be course corrected by Marv's consequent shout of, "Hey, Cap? That's the wrong way to the door, ya know." Dinah does know. She was just too damn nervous and uncertain all of a sudden to go through with confronting Laurel about her unexpected injection of the Christmas Spirit. Apparently being called out for her cowardice by a down-on-his-luck vet is the cure for that malady. Straightening her shoulders, she nods her appreciation at a man who in such a small span of time made such a large impression upon her.

"My bad," she calls back. "Thanks!"

She can see Marv's cheesy, smug grin even in the low light afforded by the street lamps and the single outside fixture attached to the outer wall of the shelter. And she certainly has no problem hearing his reply.

"You're welcome! Now, stop lyin' to yourself, march inside there and do what you gotta do to get your girl and make this a Christmas to remember."

To her astonishment and a degree of elation she has not experience since she in High School, Dinah does not bother to correct him this time. In light of all the revelations she experienced tonight about herself and Laurel, along with Marv's timely encouragement just now, clarity descends upon her with an intensity that cannot be denied. For far too long she has been too terrified – albeit for oh-so-many very good reasons – to directly confront the undeniable reality that she is falling in love with Laurel. And instead of inciting a panic that will derail the astounding progress she has made in the process of a single conversation with a man with whom she has only just become acquainted, instead of making her want to run away as fast as her legs will carry her, it does the exact opposite.

Against all rational explanation, and wildly contrary to how she felt on seconds ago, all Dinah wants to do right now is run straight to Laurel. So that's precisely what she does.

#dctv #fanfic #arrow fanfic #arrow #dinah drake #laurel lance #dinah x laurel #laurel x dinah #aka Dinahmite!#or:#dinahsiren #christmas #i may or may not throw together cover art for this #probably not tho cause I'd have to hurry and I am not good with manips #see my post history for proof

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spellsword177 · 5 years

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Ranking Lord Peter Whimsey Novels

Below is a note I did on Facebook a few years ago with some slight edits for Throwback Thursday. I still largely agree with my rankings.

This year I read through the Lord Peter Whimsey mystery series by Dorothy L. Sayers, a contemporary to Agatha Christie and a writer described as the Mistress of Mystery. The primary differences between the two authors I have found is Sayers outperforming Christie in terms of writing style and characterization and Christie surpassing Sayers in crafting intricate plots and difficult mysteries. I have enjoyed this series, and thought I might once again put forth my rankings. Remember, this is only my opinion and should you read these books for yourself you might find you have a different order. 11. Unnatural Death (1927) - Dr. Carr is overheard in a restaurant discussing the death of a wealthy, elderly cancer patient three years ago who was terminally ill. He had suspected foul play, but was unable to prove it and was subsequently run out of town. How did she die, who was responsible, and why are other people suddenly, mysteriously dropping dead? While the solution was likely cutting edge at the time and very interesting, I unfortunately had this one just about completely solved midway through and was waiting for the characters to catch up.

10. Have His Carcase (1932) - Mystery Novelist Harriet Vane discovers the corpse of a man on a rock along the beach whose throat has been cut to the bone during her walking trip through the South West coast of England. Help is summoned, but not before the body is washed away due to high tide. Who was the man, why was he later discovered with three hundred sovereigns on his person, and what does it all have to do with Russian Czars? The overall mystery in this one was fairly interesting, and the use of a cipher with coded letters added an interesting twist. This book just didn’t connect with me as well as her other works.

9. The Nine Tailors (1934) - On New Year’s Eve in Fenchurch St. Paul, Lord Peter Wimsey fills in for Will Thoday to assist in a nine-hour peal of bells while stranded in the town. On Easter, a man’s mysterious and mutilated body is found near the surface while opening a grave of Lady Thorpe, who had died on New Year’s Day, so her recently deceased husband, Sir Henry Thorpe could be buried next to her. Was he man calling himself “Driver” who had arrived in town after the New Year only to later vanish, why was there an undelivered letter from France addressed to a Paul Taylor, and how is Arthur Cobbleigh, a British soldier listed as MIA since 1918, related to the case? This book, along with Gaudy Night, has been frequently listed as the best of Sayers mystery novels. While it had the better mystery of the two, the characters were not as relatable.

8. The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club (1928) - General Fentiman is found dead in an armchair at the Bellona Club on Armistice Day. Rigor mortis is already starting to let up beginning, unusually, with his left knee, suggesting he has been dead for some time. Who was Mr. Oliver who claimed to have to have had the General as his guest overnight, how did Fentiman arrive at the club as no one saw him before the discovery, and what does it all have to do with Lady Dormer, Fentiman’s sister, who had died the previous day? I appreciated the dynamics between the characters and the examination of George Fantiman’s struggle with PTSD.

7. Strong Poison (1931) - The jury and the community at large is divided over whether mystery author Harriet Vane poisoned her former lover and fellow writer, Phillip Boyes, with arsenic. Did she purchase multiple poisons under assumed names only for plot research as she claimed, could he have been poisoned earlier in night dining with his cousin, Norman Urquhart, when no one else was affected, and was the motive really over Boyes’s sudden change of heart over marriage? The twists and turns in this one were thrilling to unravel.

6. Clouds of Witness (1926) - Peter Wimsey’s brother Gerald, Duke of Denver, has been arrested and charged with the murder of his sister Mary’s fiancé, Captain Denis Cathcart. The two had been spotted earlier that evening arguing over allegations Cathcart had been caught cheating at cards in Paris, and later Gerald was discovered by Mary kneeling over Cathcart’s body just outside the Wimseys’ shooting lodge. The man was killed by a bullet from Denver’s revolver, and Gerald’s only alibi is having gone for a late-night stroll only to have found Cathcart’s body. Peter Wimsey is on the case to find the real solution and find out why so many people, including his siblings, are lying. I loved the solution to this novel and found it to be very original.

5. Gaudy Night (1935) - Harriet Vane has returned to her alma mater, Shrewsbury College, Oxford, to attend the Gaudy dinner falling in love with academic life all over again. Later in the years, the dean writes her asking for help, hoping to avoid scandal in finding out who at the college is behind the many acts of vandalism and threats against women in education. As stated earlier, this book, along with The Nine Tailors, has been frequently listed as the best of Sayers mystery novels. While there are no murders to be solved, this one had the better story of the two and I adored the subject matter. My only criticism are the book could have been shortened by about a third.

4. Busman’s Honeymoon (1937) - Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane have recently married and are on honeymoon at Talboys, a farmhouse he purchased through correspondence at her request. They arrive to find the house locked, the former owner, Noakes, nowhere to be found, and the community surprised the learn there are new owners. The next morning, Noakes is found in the cellar having been dead for a week from head injuries. Who was the last person to see Noakes alive, was Noakes blackmailing the killer, and how was Noakes really killed? I really enjoyed this book, but felt the additional chapters covering Wimsey’s guilt over the culprit’s impending execution to be interesting, but unnecessary. Its inclusion can be attributed to Sayers’s insistence of making mystery books more like dramatic novels

3. Murder Must Advertise (1933) - Death Bredon, Peter Wimsey in disguise using his middle names, is discretely trying to solve the sudden death of Copywriter Victor Dean who fell down a spiral staircase at Pym’s Publicity, Ltd. not long after hinting something scandalous in a letter to the management. Was it really an accident as everyone believes, how are Dian de Momerie and cocaine smuggling involved, and who at Pym’s is hiding a dark secret? Although, Sayers was not satisfied with this novel, it was easily one of my favorites.

2. Five Red Herrings (1931) - Sandy Campbell, a talented painter and notoriously quarrelsome drunkard, is found dead from a fractured skull in a stream with a half-finished painting on the bank above. While the painting is an excellent forgery, it is impossible for Campbell to have worked on it. This leaves only six people who could have possibly murdered the man and set up the scene to look like an accident. What was missing from the scene of the crime that was so important, when did Campbell really die, and which one of them did it? The only part of this book I hated was trying to decipher what some of the characters were saying as Sayers insisted on writing the dialog phonetically to match Scottish accents.

1. Whose Body? (1923) - A body of a mysterious man wearing only pince-nez was discovered in a bathtub in the apartment of Mr. Thipps. How did the corpse get in the bathtub, is the case connected to the disappearance of Reuben Levy, a famous financier, who vanished from his own bedroom the night before, and what is the significance of a recent flurry of trading in Peruvian oil shares? The solution to this one was fairly easy to uncover, and deliciously macabre. It’s been said this novel is the one most like mystery books written by other authors of the genre; perhaps, that is partially why I enjoyed it the most of all the books in the Wimsey series.

#Throwback Thursday #Book Recommendations #Dorothy L Sayers #Lord Peter Wimsey #Mystery

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fapangel · 6 years

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SO what do you what will happen now with the whole fake Bomer guy supposedly be a trump supporter? Do you think the blue wave will restart or is it too little to late?

The most significantrevelation of the mail-bomber incident was that the Republicanmainstream – not the usual fringe kooks, but the levelheaded,respected commentators – immediately suspected it to be amanufactured “October Surprise.”

Some of those knee-jerktweets have since been deleted, likelyfor the same reason that I was more alarmed that I could entertain a“false flag” theory in the first place than I was by the possible“false flag” itself. Embracing asinine conspiracy theoriesis, to me, a hallmark of left-wing agitprop, an indelible impressionfrom my formative Bush-era youth when ~Halliburton~ and~Bush’s cabinet of puppeteers who have Jewish last names~was unceasingly invoked in anypolitical argument. And yet, despite knowing theoverwhelming odds of a lone lunatic being the perp (as indeed theywere) and my own decades-old biases against conspiracy theories, Istill found myselfmuttering dubiously.

Iwasn’t alone in that impression – the NewYork Times picked up on it too, and as is their wont managed todisclose their unique myopia as well. In their effort to equate allright-wing media to Alex “Lizardman Chemtrails” Jones’s usualconspiracytainment bullshit, theydrop this revealing paragraph:

Mr.Jones has been largely pushed tothe fringes of the internet — kicked off Twitter, Facebook and adozen other services — and his cries for attention now seem mostlypitiful. (This week, he was filmed yellingat a pile of manure outsidea rally for President Trump in Texas.) Buthis spirit lives on in the larger universe of pro-Trump media, whichhas fused the conspiratorial grandeur of Infowars with an unshakablefaith in Mr. Trump’s righteousness.

Theyautomatically equate media exposure of an idea with how manyviewers believe the idea. The thesis of the article lies inthese two sentences; Alex Jones has been silenced, but the moremainstream right-wing media has picked up his ideas, and that’s whythey’re still alive.

Thisalone speaks volumes about the media’s worldview, but to reallydrive it home see thisarticle wherein the reporter blames Trump’s attacks on themedia for their plummeting popularity, as if the Great PresidentialPumpkin can sway millions of Americans into hating themainstream media via his eldritch mind-control rays. This is why theyspeak of “an unshakable faith in Mr. Trump’s righteousness-”leftists view the world in terms of stupid mobs and the influentialdemagogues that sway and lead them. They simply cannot comprehendthat their own actions have shattered the public’s trust in them,despite the problem long predating Trump (one of my Journalism 101professors cited trust polling that consistently put Journalistsbelow used car salesmen back in 2007!) They find it easier tobelieve that their vast media empires’ combined megaphone is beingdrowned out by RumpleTrumpskien pied piping on his magical racistdogwhistle than to admit that people might think for themselves longenough to call them out on their egregious lies.

Thisdovetails nicely with recent revelations thatthe FBI leaked information to the press, then cited said “reporting”to the Justice Dept. as justification for further investigations,including FISA wiretapping warrants. Whilethe media’s lunacy is frequently amusing – reporters leaningdramatically into nonexistent wind, CNN’sfit over a panel truck blocking their stalker peephole in the hedge,or going bugfuck insane because Trumphad dinner without informing the media – nobody’s laughinganymore. And it’s precisely because of the growing understandingamong the populace of how the media has wantonly abused its power toaid the abuse of Federal power to nullify the results of a democraticelection.As Ian Miles Cheong said; “if the media can lie about somethingas insignificant as a koipond feeding ceremony, what else are they lying about?”

Well,now we know – and the people don’t seem amused.

I’vecovered the media’s worldview and demonstrable myopia before; Iaddress it in this instance to show thatthe media simply cannot adapt their message. Indeed,the NYT article on fringe-to-mainstream cites the mocking/pol/ “suspicious devices” meme without apparentunderstanding of how it undermines their implicit assumptions mereparagraphs prior of deplatforming speakers equalingthe silencing of their ideas. Theleft-wing “mobs and demagogues” is more than theory to them; it’show they organize – which is why John Oliver’s sick Friday nightburns are being repeated ad nauseam on Facebook by early Saturdaymorning. Theleft truly cannotmeme;it’s simply how they function. So when RumpleTrumpskien needles themedia into talking All About Themselves instead of the issues at handyetagain, iteffectively makes the mediathe issue at hand – and given that pollingconsistently shows that many Democrats are coming to distrust themedia of late, that’s not a strong issue for the DNC.Conversely, right-wingers will be shitposting the latest dank memeswith or without Alex Jones’s Twitterfeed, comehellor Maxine Waters.

Thusly,I conclude the mail bomber incident won’t have a significant impacton the electoral map – notjust because of widespread cynicism engendered by constant mediafalsehoods, but also because the structural problems that producedsuch alsocripple the media’s ability to exploit such incidents. In fact, themedia’s incredible blindness makes them likely to harmthe left-wing’s cause by doubling down on narratives that wereasinine the first time around. There is no bad news for the DNC thatthe media’s mental illness cannot make worse. Takethe latest example of thesynagogue shooter thatturnedout to be a Trump-hater who thought POTUSwas controlled Jews. Theusual hate-mongeringWaPo crowd actuallydug up the “star-shapedbackground graphic in a campaign ad” gem that was laughablelunacy beforeTrumpmoved the US embassy to Jerusalem and made defending Israel in the UNa cornerstone of US foreign policy. Thisis placed at the topofthe article, as if it’s a powerful and convincing lead-in to thelong-winded paranoid rambling of “troll armies” motivated by theusual mystic ~coded signals~ mentioned later on. Eventhe more sober-sounding takes likethis NYT hit-piece must open by blaming Trump for the crimes ofTrump-supporters andTrump-haters,which obliges the author to afascinating attempt in pissing up a rope without getting wet.

Itnaturally follows, then, that breathless media polling reports citing85% and upwards chances of a “blue wave” retaking the House areabout as trustworthy as similar polling in 2016. Even Nate Silver’smuch-vaunted “538” polling agency has come under prettypointed criticism for the number of times they’ve shrugged offsimilar “80%” predictions that haven’t come to pass – froma Harvard professor, no less. Furthermore,midterm elections are different in many ways – local issues oftenhave people more fired up (read, pissed off,) especially regardinggubernatorial elections. Since midterms are traditionally very lowturnout, a popular gubernatorial candidate can have a huge impact on“down-ballot” races – i.e. people show up to vote for thegovernor, and vote straight party ticket for alltheother candidates, US House included. In short, the polls mean jackdiddly squat, soeveryone’s simply reporting what they want (if you don’t believeme, look no further than Fox News’s reportinga nail-biting dead heat currently, then thisSeptember 22ndarticle on how dismissing “blue wave” rhetoric as the bullshit itis could suppress the Republican vote via overconfidence.A “dead heat” narrative is the safest way to turn out votes; norisk of overconfidence or hopelessness keeping people away from thepolls.) Soto evaluate the potentials, we must turn to the murkiest of allpolitical-forecastingcrystal balls - “energy levels.”

There’sbeen multiple media-exacerbated own-goals for the left in thatregard, most notably the mind-blowingly vicious smear campaignagainstJustice Kavanaugh that only managed to rile the right wing via sheeroutrage even more than the left. I could roll this one around fora while – talking about the surprising pluralities (note therelatively high numbers of Democrats and low numbers of Republicans“Very Angry” over Kavanaugh’s suffering; a surprisinglycenter-right plurality,) or how big the Republican benefit really was(Republicans being moderately more outraged than Democrats amounts toa low gain if Democrats enteredthe fray with high outrage already; but it’s likely that manyRepublicans who didn’t care at all before are outraged now).Butthere’s a larger factor to contend with – the historical realitythat the party controlling the Executive usually loses seats in theHouse in midterm elections. It happens with regularity for the samereason PoliSci101 shows you a “standardized plot” of Presidential approvalratings over time – human nature. Whoever’s in charge gets blamedfor everything bad, simply enough – so even popular Presidents willshed a few seats in the mid-terms. Combine this with the importanceof turnout in midterm elections and the oft-lamented anti-Trumpobsession on the left, and everything seems to point to Democratsbeing more motivated.

However,I’m not so sure they are.

Youtuber“Aydin Paladin,” an advanced psych student who usually talksabout psychology in a political context, did a video 11 months agotitled “LeftistLethargy and Low Energy,” specifically addressing how aconstant state of horror and outrage at every single damn Trump tweethas the inevitable consequence of emotional burnout. One cannot stayoutraged forever. At some point, you simply stop caring. Onecould debate Ayadin’s point that the left was demonstrablyhittingthis point a year ago, or posit that they’ve had time to recover –but I personally believe the lethargy lingers. Myevidence? A quick jaunt through the New York Times’ editorial page:

*A Halloween op-ed about Trump literally being worse than the fuckingbogeyman (“WhenNightmares Are Real” by Jennifer Finney Boylan,)

*An article begging Democrats not to take a usually-safe votingdemographic for granted, Native Americans

*An article on “how to turn people into voters,” featuring a modelspecific to “black Southerners,” who are a safe Democraticdemographic – but only when they actually turn up to vote,

*Andmost tellingly, an article titled“You’redisillusioned. That’sfine. Vote anyway.”

Blindand narcissistic they may be, but I trust the media to know their owntribe – and theiroutlookon the base’s revolutionary fervor looks rather dim. Once again themedia’s endless talent for own-goals is apparent. The continuingdemonizingof Trump as theworst nightmare ever onlyensures that a choir that tired of the preaching a year ago willremain so. The struggle to get black voters to actually turn out isan old and ongoing one, but pissed-off Native Americans isn’t justElizabethWarren’s fault – it was mostly the media that accepted her DNAtest showing some squillionth of a percent of native DNA asvindication,andthen gallopedover to Trump to triumphantly flaunt it at him, giving him a goldenopportunity to mock it on national TV – on their own live networkbroadcasts, even.

You’llnote that the point regarding the media’s self-sabotage of theleft-wing movement was made many paragraphs ago, but it continues torear its awful head as a salient factor in almost every exampleillustrating any otherpoint in this article – this is how pervasive it is.

There’smore to Democratic lethargy than the media pissing off key left-wingDemographics in western states with important House races, however –there’s also the overall lack of a message. Instead of coalescingon a single one, Democrats appear to be taking a local-issuesapproach, which is rather awkward given they – and the media –have spent the last two years making absolutelyeverything aboutTrump. They’re stillmaking everything about Trump (e.g.synagogue shooter) even now,inthe eleventh hour. Thenthere’s the notable and growing strain between old-schoolblue-collar union Democrats and the “progressive wing” (viz.privileged wealthy white socialists) whichdivides their messaging on the economy – especially tellingconsidering the record-low unemployment and rapidlyrising wages. (It’s hard to tell people they’re living inObama’s economy whenyou were telling them it was Trump’s climate a few months ago.)

Andof course, the cherry on this shitstorm sundae is the latest greatestmigrant caravan advancing through Mexico – seven thousandstrong, originally – which took Trump’s single greatest electionissue and slam-dunked it in the middle of the debate again. Thecaravan is significant because it tangiblyprovesTrump’s long-standing point regarding immigration problems, and isexactly the kind of thing a big wall would hinder – awall Trump can’t build if he can’t get a funding bill through theHouse.

Insum, the left still lacks a coherent message, is still desensitizingtheir electorate with constant panicked screeching, is frequentlypissing off their own key constituencies with their ham-handedagitprop, and are helping to suppress their own vote by portraying anelection that’s all but won. Meanwhile the Republicans have aPresident who’s actually delivered on many of his promises, has agreat recent event to showcase how delivering on the rest rides onthis next election, and, in general, have optimism.Somethingabout Kanye West’s recent visit to the White House stood out to me– he saidhe had nothing against Hillary’s campaign slogan, but when he puton a MAGA hat, he “felt like Superman.”

“Feltlike Superman.” That’s a sentiment of empowerment.Obamaunderstood the power of positive messaging – it’show “Hope and Change” swept him into office in his first term.Democratsthis year simply don’t.

Ican’t call it either way. But I cantell you that anyone who thinks this election is all over but for thecounting isnuts. The battle lines of 2016 have only been dug deeper, and thesimple truths of human nature make for an uphill fight – but by thesame token, Democrats have badly misplayed the hands they have, arecompletely incapable of real self-reflection on any significantscale, and Trump’s been President for two years with realsuccesses, with the much-ballyhooed Trumpocolypse yet to descend.

Insofaras I can call anything, I’d say this election is going to be close.I’d tell you to go out and vote, especiallyif you don’t want to see the party encouraging mob intimidation andstoking racial hatred controlling the House – which they’ll useto launch endless sham investigations of Trump long after Mueller’scharade finally gives up the ghost, in addition to impeaching himjust for the hell of it. If Trump loses the House he- and his agenda- will be a lame-duck for the next two years, because any seriousbill needs to be passed by both House and Senate.

Onceagain, everything is on the line.

I’mnot sick of winning yet.

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karenaashbya · 3 years

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Riddled with Wonder: How to Incorporate Koan Meditation into Your Practice and Your Life

By Dr. Kaiya Ansorge

What is a koan?

A koan is a phrase or word that is used in meditation to train the mind. Usually, the koan is somewhat puzzling in order to invite the mind to open in unusual ways. In fact, the term is often translated as “riddle.”

Koan literature involves enigmatic sayings or questions that, when meditated upon continuously, are meant to resolve in specific ways that indicate the path of insight for the initiate. On the other hand, other traditions assert that koans are not meant to be resolved but are instead ways to open us to a contemplative relationship with ephemera in the mind—rather than rational, problem-solving approaches.

The history and development of koan meditation is complex and reaches back to ancient China. However, this form of meditation can be modified to help those of us who are not planning to become Buddhist monks or scholars. We can use koans in their original formulations, or we can develop forms inspired by that practice but that are applicable and relevant to modern life, such as video meditations.

Why practice koan meditation?

The main reason to practice koan meditation is because we all practice it every day without awareness that we are doing so. All of us have thoughts—even if we think in images. These thoughts function in much the same way as a koan. Whether we consciously choose our thoughts or we unconsciously do so, we are in a continual process of training our minds. The stories and thoughts that we tell ourselves are the ones that we increasingly believe. Koan meditation brings our awareness to this process and invites us to explore further. Koan meditation slowly teaches us how to choose, question, and transform our perception of the world. However, this is not hypnosis: rather than putting us to sleep, koan practice wakes us up to a larger, more beautiful reality.

Some traditions assign a lifelong koan. The cognate of this for non-monastics is that each of us is “assigned” a specific dilemma or approach to life at birth or through early trauma/socialization. Most of us will have more than one koan that has arrived and situated itself in our preconscious mind. These range from “you are not good enough,” “you are too much,” even “I hate you,” or “you shouldn’t have been born” all the way to “freedom,” “love,” “joy,” or “you are made of love.” These voices within our mind can be explored and dismantled if they are detrimental and then replaced by ones that are natural to the divine nature within each of us. The degrading messages are always from an early hurt. The messages that feel freeing—or like a peaceful home—are the ones that are true to our nature.

How can you incorporate koan meditation into your practice?

Steps for koan meditation

1. Choose how you would like to practice. Would you like to do a seated, lying down, or walking meditation? You may even choose a non-traditionally Buddhist practice such as swimming or writing meditation. Many Buddhists use koans as a continual contemplation throughout their regular daily activities.

2. Choose a koan. You may use a traditional koan such as “What is the sound of one hand clapping?” Or you may want to try koans you discover via a source such as Moti Media’s video series on koan meditation. Or you may choose a poem or a phrase that you want to move from your mind to your entire being. Affirmations and prayers are potent with this practice.

Here is a list of koan sources and ideas:

– Traditional sources are the “Blue Cliff Record” (Pi-yen lu) and “The Gateless Gate” (Wu-men kuan).

– Poems by Mary Oliver are especially helpful for those who practice in nature.

– Choose prayers from your religious background or, even better, from another religion in order to expand your consciousness and challenge it in a way that mystify you and open you to new vistas.

– A new way to engage koan meditation is through short exploratory videos such as “What’s There?” “Pursuit of Heavens,” and “Cycle.”

3. Gently rest your mind on your chosen koan as you meditate.

4. When you notice your mind drifting from the koan, you may follow the thoughts but with awareness, or you may return your thoughts gently to the koan. I find it helpful to mix these two approaches: as my mind explores the trajectories of the koan I watch, but if I find myself wandering off-topic or toward judgmental trajectories, I acknowledge the stray thoughts, thank them, and return to the koan.

5. As you watch your thoughts around the koan, allow yourself to notice those thoughts while cultivating interest and releasing judgment. Rhythmic, gentle breathing helps us transition our judgmental or anxious thoughts into a pattern of calming embrace and release.

6. As you close your session, offer gratitude or love to the koan, to your mind, and finally to your body for this session.

Life is made of koans. These koans come to us in the form of personal, interpersonal, and cultural tensions and puzzles. By learning how to work with koans in meditation, we begin to translate our approach to the challenges of our own lives through this lens. Koan practice also trains our minds to be flexible and creative, thus imparting flexibility and creativity towards our lives as challenges arise. This type of mindfulness-training delivers us into an unexpected curiosity, freedom, and joy in the midst of life’s dilemmas and challenges: in other words, we become riddled with wonder.

——————

Editor’s note: This is a guest post by Dr. Kaiya Ansorge. Kaiya is academically trained in psychology, philosophical theology, and religion. She teaches at the University of South Dakota. Because Kaiya loves to explore the spirituality of place, she has lived, studied, written, and traveled her way through 24 countries, spread across 5 continents. Her previous works include The Nature of Miracle, The Relationship between the Word and the Thing, “How to Use the 7 Chakras to Get in Touch with Personal Vitality,” and “Ascension: a Different Kind of Gravity.” Kaiya has appeared in Theology Today, Daily Cup of Yoga, Your Motivational High 5, and on Sunny 93.3, South Dakota Public Radio, and KELO-TV. You can find her through her website or through Facebook.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8246247 https://dailycup.yoga/2021/09/09/riddled-with-wonder-how-to-incorporate-koan-meditation-into-your-practice-and-your-life/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

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spaztronautwriter · 6 years

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The Proposal: Ch. 5 (an Olicity fic)

Summary: When Felicity Smoak finds herself in a bind, she enlists the help of her assistant Oliver Dearden to help her keep her from being deported and losing her job. The problem is, in order to do so, they kind of have to get married…

A/N: I feel like I should point out that I’m sort of using this fic as a motivator to write/post more often, and I’m not putting as much effort or editing into it as I normally would. So if the chapter lengths and the pacing seems all over the place or you notice a lot of mistakes, that’s why. Hopefully this chapter’s alright, though. It’s longer than last week’s at least.

Read Chapter: One | Two | Three | Four | Five

Read on AO3

###

By the time the town car pulled up outside the Queen’s mansion, Felicity was exhausted. Both physically and emotionally. She took in the huge, stone estate with an unseeing eye. Oh, she saw the perfectly manicured lawns, surrounded by gardens and lovely wooded areas. Saw, with some amount of awe, the impressive, almost castle-like structure before her, but it was fleeting. Her only substantial thought was which of the many windows belonged to her room.

She’d never been a fan of flying to begin with—it always seemed to leave her groggy—but the flight mixed with the stress of finding out Oliver had been lying to her for years… All she wanted was to crawl under the blankets and stay there for the next forty-eight hours. Oh, but of course she couldn’t! Because she was about to go inside the actual castle that was his childhood home and meet his family for the first time to announce their engagement.

What the hell had she been thinking?!

What the hell had he been thinking when he’d agreed to this stupid plan?!

The driver came around back to open the door for them and Thea gracefully slid out of the back seat. Oliver leaned over, ducking his head a little to address his sister.

“Can you give us a minute, Thea?”

Thea smirked, tilting her head to look past him and directly at Felicity. “Not changing your mind, are you?”

Little did the girl know that that was exactly the question Felicity needed to answer. Was this—Oliver’s parentage—going to derail this plan of her’s? Was it easier to just call it quits now or should see stick it out, despite all of her doubts?

The answer would largely depend on Oliver’s explanation.

“We’ll be right in,” Oliver assured her. He nodded once at the driver, who politely shut the door, giving them a moment of privacy.

As soon as they were alone she turned on him. “What the hell, Oliver?” she hissed, slapping the back of her hand into his bicep.

“Ow.” He glared, making a show out of rubbing his arm. “I’m sorry, alright?”

“Why didn’t you at least warn me?” she demanded.

“I meant to tell you on the plane, but you wanted to go over the project budget again. And then I was going to tell you on the way here, but Thea ambushed us at the airport.”

“Those sound like excuses.” Felicity narrowed her eyes. “You’ve worked for me for how long? You could have mentioned it at some point.”

“It never came up,” he said with a shrug. “I’ve been avoiding my past for years and I’ve done a pretty good job of it up until now.” Blowing out a breath, he leaned back into the plush leather seating of the town car. “I like my life now. I like my job. I really didn’t want to lose it because of my family’s business.”

She pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to stem a headache. She really needed a nap. “You wouldn’t have lost your job, Oliver.”

He crossed his arms in front of his chest, tilting his head challengingly. “Tell me, honestly, that the board would be okay with your executive assistant being the son of Robert Queen.”

Felicity sighed. He was right. If there was one thing the Palmer Tech board of investors wasn’t known for it was being understanding. They’d have fired him in a heartbeat, or worse, made her do it.

“Yeah, well,” she said, shaking her head, “they’re going to be even less thrilled when it turns out their Vice President is Robert Queen’s daughter-in-law.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t think anyone would ever have to know. I wasn’t prepared for my boss to volunteer me for marriage.” She leveled him with a look that had his shoulders slumping. “Look, we can still keep this between us. My parents aren’t exactly bragging to their friends about my position at Palmer Tech. They’ll keep our marriage quiet as long as we do.”

Felicity took a long, deep breath. That could work. Oliver was clearly estranged from his family, and it wasn’t like it was illegal to work for your father’s competitor. Maybe she was making way too big a deal about this. It would be fine. They’d spend a quiet weekend with the Queens celebrating Thea’s birthday. She’d keep out of the public eye while she was here and they’d head back to Central City on Sunday to get married by a justice of the peace.

It would be fine.

“Okay,” she said, feeling calmer now that they’d talked. “I guess we need to go inside now, huh?”

Oliver smiled. “Yeah. I’m pretty sure Thea will come looking for us soon if we don’t.”

Felicity bit her lip, looking back towards the mansion. “I wish I could take a nap first.”

“Me, too,” he sighed, opening the door. “But if we get it over with now it’ll be easier. Like ripping off a band aid.”

Felicity groaned, but allowed him to help her from the car. The mansion really was lovely and under any other circumstance she’d probably love to spend a quiet weekend here. Swinging open the solid oak door, Oliver led them into a large foyer. She took in the marble floors and the staircases—one on each side of the entrance, twisting up to the second floor. It looked more like a hotel than a home.

A woman in a housekeeper’s uniform entered the room, her face splitting into a large grin when she saw them. Or, saw Oliver, more accurately. “Mr. Oliver!” she exclaimed, rushing over to give him a hug.

Oliver laughed, wrapping his arms around her. “It’s good to see you, Raisa.”

“It’s been too long. You should come home more often,” she clucked.

He smiled, giving her a kiss on the cheek before pulling back. “Where is everyone?”

“They’re in the sitting room, waiting for you.” Finally she turned to Felicity, her eye appraising, though not unkind. “Who is your friend, Oliver?”

“This is Felicity,” he replied, his hand belatedly shooting to the small of her back. “My fiancée.”

Felicity’s hands twitched at the title, but she managed to put on her best smile. Raisa’s eyes widened as she looked back and forth between them, eventually settling on Felicity.

“Another reason he should come home more often,” she teased, reaching for Felicity’s hands. She took them both in hers, squeezing affectionately. “It is nice to meet you, Ms. Felicity.”

“You, too,” she said, her nerves lessening just a touch at the warm reception.

“Oliver, sweetheart?”

Felicity turned to see a woman coming from a room to the right. She was somehow both charming and intimidating with her honeyed voice and glowing smile.

“Thea said you brought a friend,” she said, pulling him in for a hug and kissing his cheek, before turning to Felicity. “I’m Moira Queen.”

“Mom,” Oliver said. “This is Felicity Smoak.”

“Hi,” Felicity said, trying to remember the last time she’d met someone’s parents. Had she been this nervous then? “Oliver’s told me so much about you.”

At least, he’d mentioned quite a few times how overbearing his mother could be. That counted, right?

Moira smiled politely, if not as warmly as she had at her son. “Everyone’s in the sitting room. Why don’t we head in so you can say hello?”

Oliver took her hand, nearly startling her, but she was glad for the support as they walked into the sitting room. There weren’t many people waiting. Just Thea sitting on the sofa with an older man that Felicity recognized immediately as Robert Queen, and a younger man with dark hair and a wide smile standing beside them.

“Ollie,” the younger man crowed, rushing over to embrace Oliver. Felicity had to quickly step back to avoid getting in the way. “It’s been too long.”

“Tommy,” Oliver laughed, patting the man on the back. “You were in Central City, like, two months ago.”

“Yes, I was,” he agreed, his eyes skating over Felicity as he pulled back. “So why wasn’t I introduced to your enchanting friend here?”

Oliver shook his head. “This is Felicity Smoak. Felicity, this is my best friend, Tommy Merlyn.”

Tommy grinned, his eyes playfully raking her figure. “Now I understand why he refuses to leave Central City.”

It was a cheesy line, but something about Tommy’s overdone charm set Felicity at ease and the last vestiges of nerves faded. “Now I understand why he never introduced us,” she said with a smirk.

Tommy grinned in delight, probably unused to women not falling for his charms.

“I’m Robert Queen,” the older man said, standing from the sofa. He approached with a grin, reaching out to shake her hand. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Ms. Smoak. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Oh,” Felicity said, shooting Oliver a teasing smile. “All good things I hope.”

She hadn’t forgotten what he’d said about her to his sister. Masochistic dictator, she believed was the term. She wasn’t about to let him live that down.

“From colleagues,” Robert corrected. “You’ve been doing excellent work at Palmer Tech. Ted Kord speaks highly of you.”

“Oh.” She tried to temper her blush, but it was nearly impossible. Robert Queen was a giant in the industry and he’d heard of her. She just hoped she wasn’t grinning like a total dork.

“So what brings you to Starling?” he asked. “Is it too much to hope you’re in the market for a new job?”

Over Robert’s shoulder, Thea smirked, settling into the couch to watch the show. Moira stepped over, smiling as she wrapped her fingers around Robert’s arm, her wedding ring glistening in the light from the windows. Felicity’s nerves fluttered back to life.

Oliver took a deep breath, holding it for a moment before he said, “Mom, Dad. We have some news.”

Moira’s smile tightened. Tommy’s head cocked to the side. Clearly Thea hadn’t spilled the beans. It probably would have been easier if she had.

“We’re…” Oliver paused, looking down at her. All of her fears and anxiety were reflecting back at her from his eyes, and she reached out instinctively, taking his hand. His lips twitched, the ghost of a smile pulling them up at the corners, before he looked back at his parents. “We’re getting married.”

Robert huffed, but smiled. It was… not exactly happy, but it wasn’t unhappy either. Felicity didn’t quite know how to judge what the older man was feeling. “I suppose that's the best news we could have hoped for,” he said, clapping his son on the back.

Oliver smiled stiffly at his father’s vaguely insulting form of congratulations, then turned to his mother. Felicity had little problem determining what she was feeling. Moira looked deflated, her shoulders slumped, her smile thin.

“Congratulations,” she said, her tone too polite to be genuine. Not that Felicity needed anyone to feel happy about this marriage. She herself wasn’t very happy about it, but Oliver’s stiff posture and weak smile made her wish his parents could at least pretend to be happy for him. After all, they didn’t know the marriage was a ruse.

“Well,” Thea said, hopping up from the sofa, “I, for one, could not be happier. We could use another woman around here.”

“Congratulations, buddy,” Tommy said, slapping Oliver on the back, before turning to Felicity and sweeping her into a hug. She was almost startled by the fervor of his embrace, but she was glad to know she’d been right in her assessment of him. He was good people, and a good friend. When he pulled back he went on, cutting through the awkward tension in the air, “So how’d you meet? How’d he propose? Tell us everything.”

Robert and Moira stepped back, murmuring to one another. It made Felicity nervous, but she was quickly distracted when Thea stepped up beside Tommy, waiting for her to tell the story of how she and Oliver met. The two of them looked so much alike—both with their dark features and eager smiles—that they could be siblings.

After a quick glance at Oliver, Felicity explained that they worked together at Palmer Tech. Oliver chimed in, telling them the same story they’d told the man from Immigration. They’d met at work, fallen in love, and he’d proposed.

“That’s it?” Tommy asked, sounding personally offended that they didn’t have a more interesting story. “You just… asked her?”

Oliver laughed. “How else would you suggest?”

“You have to be romantic!” Thea exclaimed. “Take her to a nice restaurant and have them hide the ring in the dessert!”

“Or the champagne glass,” Tommy added.

“It was fine,” Felicity said, laughing off their suggestions.

Thea rolled her eyes. “Fine is not how you should describe your proposal.”

“Remind me not to come to you guys for suggestions when it’s my turn,” Tommy said.

Thea’s eyes dipped briefly to Felicity’s hand. “So where’s the ring? I noticed you didn’t have one” —she glanced at Oliver— “and you didn’t ask Mom for Grandma’s so…?”

“It was kind of spur of the moment,” Oliver said with a shrug.

“But you said you proposed in March! You still haven’t gotten her a ring?”

Oliver opened his mouth, then closed it, and glanced down at Felicity for help, just as Moira stepped back into the room, followed by Raisa with a tray of champagne flutes. Felicity hadn’t even realized that Moira had left.

“We’ll make sure she has a ring befitting of a Queen,” she said, handing both Oliver and Felicity flutes, before taking one for herself.

Robert raised his glass in the air once everyone had one. “To Oliver and Felicity,” was all he said, before taking a sip.

It was, without a doubt, one of the most awkward situations Felicity had ever gotten herself into, and that was saying something. If it weren’t for Thea and Tommy she’d seriously be considering deportation as the preferable option.

No sooner had she thought that, then Thea grabbed a pen sitting beside a stack of books on the table and used it to clink her champagne glass.

“Kiss!”

“Thea,” Oliver sighed.

“Oh, come on, Ollie. Kiss her!”

When neither of them made a move to do as she suggested, Thea took Felicity’s arm and turned her to face Oliver. She looked up to see he was already watching her with a somber expression. He looked calm, maybe even a little amused—on the surface—but Felicity could see the tension in the way he held himself. She could see it in his eyes as they flicked over her face, measuring her reaction to his sister’s demand.

Felicity shrugged, trying to keep any reluctance she might have felt off her face. She didn’t need Oliver’s family wondering why she freaked out about a tiny kiss. And that was all it had to be, right? Just a peck on the lips.

It took everything in her to push down her nerves and shoot him a small, imploring smile. Her way of asking him to just do it. She nearly jumped when his free hand settled on her waist. He was a perfect gentleman, but his fingertips felt scalding, even through her blouse. Though, she was so worked up right now even Thea’s hand, still on her elbow, was overwhelming.

Oliver leaned forward, stopping just as his nose brushed hers. His warm breath skated over her cheek, but he left a few inches between them, waiting for her to meet him halfway. She pushed up on her toes, pressing her lips against his for a moment before pulling back.

There. That wasn’t so bad. She’d barely even felt it. Both of their lips were chapped from the flight, and, if her lips tingled just slightly where they’d brushed his, that was to be expected.

“Boo!” Tommy cried, and Felicity turned to see him grinning at them. “You call that a kiss? What happened? You used to actually have game, Ollie!”

“Yeah,” Thea agreed, and Felicity noticed that the girl had moved back over by Tommy at some point without her noticing. “That was weak. Give us a real kiss!”

Felicity looked back at Oliver just in time to see him roll his eyes, then he was leaning back in. It was so fast, she didn’t have time to brace herself. His arms, wrapped around her waist, not the gentle way he had before, but full on encircling her waist and tugging her into his chest. She nearly yelped, but he cut her off, his lips descending on hers and stealing her breath. There was a moment where everything stopped, and all she could do was feel. His lips, urging hers to move with them. His strong arms, banded around her back. His chest, warm and solid against hers. She melted, her back arching, free hand flying to his shirt to give her something to grab onto.

He pressed one last kiss against her lips, one she eagerly leaned into, before pulling back. Just enough to rest his nose against hers as they breathed each other’s air. Her hand tangled tighter in his shirt and braced herself to push up again, to meet his lips one more time, but a loud woot! pulled her out of the haze of Oliver’s kiss and back to his parents living room where they were pretending like that wasn’t their first kiss.

Once she was able to clear her head a little, she was pleased to note that Oliver looked just as dazed as she felt. He blinked a few times, before finally he pulled back and putting way more space between them than was probably appropriate. Not that anyone seemed to notice. Thea was actually in the middle of giving them a slow clap.

“Damn, big brother. I think you just got her pregnant.”

Oliver’s ears went bright red, and if Felicity hadn’t been so embarrassed herself, she might have laughed at him too. Instead she chugged her champagne, ignoring the way the bubbles made her want to sneeze.

“I apologize for those two,” Moira said. “Thea and Tommy can be… a bit much when they get together.”

“I can be a bit much all on my own, thank you very much.” Tommy grinned.

Moira’s lips flattened out into a thin line and she shot him an exasperated look, before turning back to Oliver. “Why don’t you bring your… fiancée… up to your room, and let her get settled in, Oliver. She probably wants to freshen up before dinner.”

The words sounded innocuous enough, but Felicity had a gut feeling that they were meant as an insult. Really, though, she’d take any excuse to get herself out of the spotlight right now, even going upstairs to Oliver’s room, so she wasn’t about to complain.

Oliver sighed in what Felicity was pretty sure was relief, turning to take her glass and set it beside his on the table. They said their goodbyes quickly, then she let him guide her from the room, one hand on the small of her back.

“Well, I like her,” she heard Tommy laugh as they made their way through the foyer to the staircase. She tried not to wonder if he was just announcing his own opinion or replying to someone else’s.

#olicity fanfiction #olicity fic #olicity au #the proposal (an olicity fic)

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djskrappydu · 6 years

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2017 Year in Review

Photo credit: @seinfeld2000 twitter I probably need to write more than once a year. I also probably need to find a better medium than Tumblr, but alas here we are 2017. (You will not find “Despacito” or “Bodak Yellow” here.)

Albums

1. Lorde - Melodrama

Ella Yelich-O’Connor’s sophomore heartbreak rebound album is bursting at the seams with raw emotion. Lorde described the album as a concept of one long summer house party. She is motivated to go out to get over her ex. (“Green Light”) She gets too drunk and falls apart. (“Writer in the Dark” & “Liability”) She wakes up the morning after and decides this isn’t helping. (“Perfect Places”) Melodrama is an album of youth and heartache that brings everyone to where they were at Lorde’s 21 years of age. Best Tracks: “Green Light,” “Writer In The Dark,” “Supercut,” “Perfect Places”

2. Father John Misty - Pure Comedy

Josh Tillman has stated that Pure Comedy was written and completed before Election Day 2016. But it sure feels like he wrote the whole thing on November 9th, 2016. Without once mentioning the current flaming dumpster in chief, Father John Misty diagnoses America’s disease. The State of Our Union is self-obsessed, screen-attached, entertainment-driven and headed for ruin. If you thought this summary was grim, listen to the album. Best Tracks: “Pure Comedy,” “A Bigger Paper Bag,” “Leaving LA,” “Birdy”

3. Kendrick Lamar - DAMN.

I want to state firmly DAMN. is not K.Dot’s best album, honestly I’m not even sure it’s his second best album. It would be hard to ever match such a complex opus like To Pimp A Butterfly that we’re still trying to unravel nearly three years later. However, DAMN. is a very, very good album. It’s an album about success, struggle, race, hip-hop itself, roots and hard work. In a sense, DAMN. is a summation of Kendrick Lamar as an artist with pieces of all his previous work collapsing into a whole. Best Tracks: “ELEMENT.” “FEAR.” “LOYALTY. (featuring Rihanna)”

4. War on Drugs - A Deeper Understanding

War on Drugs is driving music. The long kind of drive where you know your ass will be glued to your seat for a while. It’s a drive through the plains where you can see the whole sky stretch across your field of vision. The songs are long and the riffs and solos paint epic landscapes. A Deeper Understanding sweeps you up in the massiveness of its sound like driving into the sunset. Best Tracks: “Strangest Thing,” “Up All Night,” “In Chains”

5. Waxahatchee - Out in The Storm

Looking through this list, there’s a large portion of break-up albums, but I guess that’s one of songwritings biggest inspirations. Well, here’s the second of four on this list. Katie Crutchfield’s heartbreak is a lot angrier than Lorde’s. She’s furious and hurt. Her pain cuts to the core. Crutchfield feels that she wasted so much time and energy on her ex. On Out In The Storm she bares it all and releases it, well, into the storm. Best Tracks: “Recite Remorse” “No Question,” “Silver”

6. The xx - I See You

After Coexist, the members of the English trio recollected themselves. Jamie honed his craft with 2015’s In Colour, Romy worked on songwriting with Ryan Tedder and Oliver got sober. On I See You, Jamie XX became the frontman of the band behind the decks and drumpads. The groups third album is their most upbeat, lively piece of work. The phrase “I See You” was a saying between the band recognizing each other beyond skin deep. Each members pain and joy can beheard in their voices, basses and samples. Best Tracks: “On Hold,” “Replica,” “I Dare You”

7. St. Vincent - MASSEDUCTION

Here’s breakup album three of four. Annie Clarke’s fifth album as St. Vincent has been described as “Trauma Pop.” After a series of breakups including one with supermodel/actress Cara Delevigne, Clarke created a piece of pop art. While the album and cover evokes hot pinks and reds, the lyrical content is quite glum. On “Los Ageless,” she asks why fall in love at all if you’re bound to lose anyway. It’s a breakup album about witnessing your own pain rather than the path to recovery like Lorde or driving your raw anger at the ex like Waxahatchee. Best Tracks: “Los Ageless,” “Slow Disco,” “Hang On Me”

8. Migos - C U L T U R E

The title says it all. The Migos are the culture. (It’s literally the opening line of the album.) Quavo, Offset and Takeoff are rockstars. After a dud debut album with Yung Rich Nation, Migos created a summation of their contribution to Atlanta rap culture, rap culture and culture, period. C U L T U R E elevates the Migos to icon status where they can pave their own lane and everyone will follow. Every track on this album had the ability to become a rap radio hit. Quavo and Offset have become the go-to guest versus as Lil Wayne was back in the late 2000’s. Fuckboy bowdown, don’t ever doubt that the Migos aren’t the culture. Best Tracks: “Bad and Boujee (featuring Lil Uzi Vert),” “T-Shirt,” “Big on Big,” “Get Right Witcha”

9. Dirty Projectors - Dirty Projectors

Breakup album four of four. After a five-year hiatus, Dave Longstreth returns solo since the album is mainly about his former bandmate and ex Amber Coffman. (Her album City of No Reply was also fantastic.) Still inventive, Longstreth utilizes dancehall and pop sounds to create a breakup album with a long-term scope about taking note of the past and moving on. Longstreth is a master storyteller recalling the relationship in whole on “Up in Hudson” Best Tracks: “Up in Hudson,” “Cool Your Heart (featuring DAWN),” “Little Bubble”

10. Amine - Good for You

Amine’s debut album is on par with Chance the Rapper’s Acid Rap. Hear me out. Both rappers sing and rap. Both embrace positivity over the rap majority’s sound of violence and anger. They rap about friendship and family (“Sundays”/ “Cocoa Butter Kisses”). Arguably, Amine’s hometown of Portland doesn’t face the crime rate of Chance’s Chicago. Amine, like Chance, seems to be paving his own lane. Good For You was arguably the most fun record of the year with great joy and self-empowerment. Best Tracks: “Yellow (featuring Nelly),” “Wedding Crashers (featuring Offset)” “Sundays”

Songs

1. “Perfect Places” - Lorde - Melodrama

Lorde discovers partying won’t make her whole by making a masterpiece of pop songwriting.

2. “(No One Knows Me) Like The Piano” - Sampha - Process

Sampha and the piano are a simple, but soul-crushing duo.

3. “Strangest Thing” - The War On Drugs - A Deeper Understanding

“Strangest Thing” takes you like a tidal wave of sound rushing over head.

4. “Recite Remorse” - Waxahatchee - Out in The Storm

Katie Crutchfield builds on her anguish over her ex’s treatment of her over this ambient gust of a track.

5. “Pure Comedy” - Father John Misty - Pure Comedy

American society has become a sitcom unaware of its biting irony. This is the theme song.

6. “Up in Hudson” - Dirty Projectors - Dirty Projectors

Dave Longstreth recalls his relationship with Amber Coffman, seemingly in real time.

7. “Slide (featuring Frank Ocean & Migos)” - Calvin Harris - Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1

Calvin Harris, Frank Ocean, Quavo and Offset take you to the funkiest beach on their sonic island.

8. “Half-Light (featuring Kelly Zutrau)” - Rostam - Half-Light

Rostam keeps his love and all of us warm with this beautiful romantic jam.

9. “The Story of O.J.” - Jay-Z - 4:44

Jay-Z reflects on race and how to escape the system through credit.

10. “Tonite” - LCD Soundsystem - American Dream

Aziz Ansari had a joke about the kind of music they play at the club. James Murphy must have heard that when he wrote this song.

11. “Los Ageless” - St. Vincent - MASSEDUCTION

Is it better to have loved and lost or to have never loved at all? Annie Clarke tries to shred her way to an answer.

12. “Chanel” - Frank Ocean

Frank Ocean flexes his rapping chops on his ode to his fluid sexuality.

13. “Big Fish” - Vince Staples - Big Fish Theory

Teetotaler Vince Staples and syrup-laced Juicy J create a club heater over a glitch house beat.

14. “Turn Out The Lights” - Julien Baker - Turn Out The Lights

The twenty-two year old singer songwriter builds it up and lets it bleed on this emo-folk slow burner.

15. “FEAR.” - Kendrick Lamar - DAMN.

Kung-Fu Kenny lights one up and exposes the traumas of his childhood home in impoverished compton.

16. “Deadly Valentine” - Charlotte Gainsbourg - Rest

The French actress-singer repeats her vows over and over to art funk.

17. “Kept Me Crying” - Haim - Something to Tell You

The sisters Haim tell the ex it’s time to let it go and let them breathe over the heavy drums.

18. “This Old Dog” - Mac DeMarco - This Old Dog

Aging takes a toll on all of us, but the ever-goofy DeMarco keeps a hold on his younger self and his love for his Kiki.

19. “Crew (featuring Shy Glizzy & Brent Fiyaz)” - Goldlink - At What Cost?

I moved to the D.C. area this year. This is what it was like to watch a city receive an anthem.

20. “T-Shirt” - Migos - C U L T U R E

It was a daunting challenge to follow-up “Bad and Boujee,” but don’t you ever doubt the Migos.

21. “Mask Off” - Future - Future

An inescapable song that turned flute rap into a real thing. However, don’t take this song as a source of advice.

22. “Bobby” - (Sandy) Alex G - Rocket

The Philly singer-songwriter personifies his depression and tries to fight him off for love.

23. “Supercut” - Lorde - Melodrama

While the good times always seem to draw her back, Lorde knows she’s lying to herself to ignore the bad ones.

24. “I Dare You” - The XX - I See You

This song feels like a breakthrough for the XX. An escape from their depression bound to new-found love.

25. “Slow Disco” - St. Vincent - MASSEDUCTION

St. Vincent leaves her old lover hanging in the wind under this orchestral cut.

26. “On Another Ocean (January/June)” - Fleet Foxes - On Another Ocean

Fleet Foxes return with a vast song about long distance.

27. “From The Dining Table” - Harry Styles - Harry Styles

The most recognizable member of the most famous boy band of the last ten years makes himself incredibly uncool and vulnerable.

28. “ELEMENT” - Kendrick Lamar - DAMN.

K.Dot’s in the zone and no matter what he does he’s going to make it look sexy.

29. “Portland (featuring Quavo & Travis Scott)” - Drake - More Life

Drake, Quavo and Travis sound impossibly cool while stealing Future’s flute rap wave.

30. “Serve The Song” - Real Estate - In Mind

Real Estate commit themselves to their trade with the grooviest song of the year.

31. “Magnolia” - Playboi Carti - Playboi Carti

Playboi Carti and Pierre Bourne let it bounce in New York.

32. “Sundays” - Amine - Good For You

It’s important to take advantage of your leisure time as Amine’s sinks into the beat like we should all sink into the couch.

33. “You and I” - Toro y Moi - Boo Boo

Chaz Bundick elevates while finding love after a long search.

34. “A Bigger Paper Bag” - Father John Misty - Pure Comedy

It’s been hard not to think about that one person all 2017. Clearly, Josh Tillman had him on the brain too.

35. “Blu (featuring Damon Albarn)” - Mura Masa - Mura Masa

The Guernsey-born producer is so in love it hurts.

36. “Czech One” - King Krule - The Ooz

Archy Marshall fades into the night over this slow jazzy track.

37. “Midnight” - Jessie Ware - Glasshouse

Taking some liberties from Elton John, Jessie Ware reminds us that she can really sing.

38. “disco tits” - Tove Lo - BLUE LIPS (lady wood phase II)

The Swedish star songwriter is feeling herself almost way too much over this house pop banger.

39. “On + Off” - Maggie Rogers - Now That The Light is Fading

The recent NYU grad and indie darling shows her promise and her changing moods.

40. “REDMERCEDES” - Amine

Amine rolls deep over a Missy Elliot style beat.

41. “Candles” - Future Islands - The Far Field

The deep-voiced, operatic Samuel Herring makes it sound sexy.

42. “The Bus Song” - Jay Som - Everybody Works

Take a saturday bus trip around the bay area.

43. “Undercover” - Kehlani - SweetSexySavage

Kehlani is going to get to her love no matter what especially with a little help from an old Akon joint.

44. “GOLD” - BROCKHAMPTON - SATURATION

The world’s coolest boy band flexs their gold chains over old-school beats.

45. “How To Talk” - Lil Uzi Vert - Luv Is Rage 2

Just because Lil Uzi rode his wave to a number one album this year, doesn’t mean you can’t hurt his feelings.

46. “20 Something” - SZA - CTRL

The TDE-singer doesn’t want to let her 20’s go to waste.

47. “Motion Sickness” - Phoebe Bridgers - Stranger in the Alps

The up-and-coming is in a fragile state after her break-up and she’s trying to keep her balance.

48. “Million Enemies” - Wavves - You’re Welcome

While this probably isn’t what the band was getting at, imagine what it’s like to be in Trump’s brain.

49. “Hard Times” - Paramore - After Laughter

The emo giants return after a tumultuous hiatus with this Talking Heads-style jam to help you get through the day to day.

50. “Wild Thoughts (featuring Rihanna & Bryson Tiller)” - DJ Khaled - Grateful

This is the sexiest song ever to be recorded with DJ Khaled also screaming over it.

Music Videos

Migos - “T-Shirt”

youtube

I’ve never seen The Revenant and I don’t see why I would now.

Tove Lo - “disco tits”

youtube

Not safe for work, not safe for puppets.

Charli XCX - “Boys”

youtube

Like this year, the girl flipped it on the boys.

BROCKHAMPTON - “GUMMY”

youtube

Every video by this group is incredible. This was just the one with a “plot.”

Kendrick Lamar - “ELEMENT.”

youtube

Every frame is a powerful photo and he made it look sexy.

Most Underrated Album

Harry Styles by Harry Styles

I think I know like at most two One Direction songs. It must be quite an advantage to make your album debut already being one of the most famous singers in the world. Sure, you could have made R&B that sounds like Usher and Drake *Zayn*, just decided to ripoff the already terrible Ed Sheeran *Niall* or you could just make the same boring pop music anyone else would make *the other two*. But you could say, fuck it I’m going to attempt to bring back rock and roll instead. I’m not saying Harry Styles is the savior mainstream rock needs or it’s savior period, but this record blew out all expectations with him trying to do so. Styles recreates himself as Mick Jagger, David Bowie and John Lennon over this underappreciated record. Best Tracks: “From The Dining Table,” “Meet Me in The Hallway,” “Woman”

Best New Act

BROCKHAMPTON

“Rock the boat like a one-eyed pirate/Rick James, I can get it on my eyelids”

“I used to deal with the grams until they put the cam on my face/Now I’m evading the law on a high speech chase.”

“DON’T. CALL ME. STUPID. THAT AIN’T THE WAY MY NAME PRONOUNCED/DON’T CALL ME CUPID. I GOT TOO MANY HOES RIGHT NOW!”

What if I told you these were all lyrics from a boyband? Then let me introduce you to the one-of-a-kind style of BROCKHAMPTON. The group is the way should be America should be. Members of every race, religion, nationality and sexuality. A multi-faceted machine with members doing every kind of creative role. These guys work fast. By the time you read this, their third album of the year will be the days away. Unfortunately, it’s going to be their last, allegedly. (You can still catch them on tour through the beginning of 2018.)

The best part of BROCKHAMPTON is that this 20+ member group is having more fun than most of us probably do in our whole lives. The beats, flows and rhymes are all insanely creative because it feels like their just riffing in the garage. None of the videos don’t fit any strict narrative. People are saran wrapping PB&J to their face, bouncing in sumo suits and just hanging with a llama. The world needs to be more like BROCKHAMPTON.

Best Non-2017 Song Discovered This Year

“Ripple” by The Grateful Dead

I went to college in Colorado for four years. When everyone else was getting into the Grateful Dead, I stupidly shied away. I knew the basic, “Uncle John’s Band,” “Friend of the Devil,” “Truckin,” “Shakedown Street,” etc. This past June I joined a friend and his frat brother to a Dead and Company show at the Jiffy Lube Live amphitheater. Needless to say, I left with a tie-dye shirt of cartoon Jerry driving a VW Bus.

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cogentranting · 6 years

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I don't agree that Curtis was the least wronged. He has given up a lot for Oliver and his team: his job, his social life, and most importantly his marriage. At this point he has nothing in his life but team Arrow and Helix Dynamics. So it's not unreasonable for him to expect some trust in return for all his sacrifices, especially when he did nothing to warrant distrust. And like Oliver said you can't go into the field with some you can't rely on, and Curtis no longer feels he can rely on Oliver.

I should have specified initially: the least wronged of NTA. Cuz Diggle and Felicity are the least wronged. And I didn’t mean to suggest that Curtis hasn’t been wronged at all, there’s some merit to his complaint. But Dinah’s being openly accused and verbally attacked by Oliver, and Rene’s treatment as a pariah (not totally undeserved) along with getting kicked off the team and out of the mayors office and essentially out of everything he’s a part of, in addition to the general distrust which all three received, makes, Curtis, by default, the least wronged.

And as for Curtis not doing anything to deserve that distrust, OTA didn’t distrust any of them until they were given a reason to- they were concretely told that one of those three had betrayed Oliver (who because of that betrayal is now facing life in prison and maybe even the threat of the death penalty, leaving his son either effectively orphaned or literally orphaned and is thus the most wronged). And so OTA knew that one of the new guys had betrayed their trust but because there had been trust before and because, to OTA’s knowledge at that point, none of the newbies had done anything to deserve mistrust so it was impossible for them to tell who actually couldn’t be trusted. So to me, it’s not so much that they didn’t trust Curtis- they did- it’s that they trusted Rene and Dinah an equal amount and thus couldn’t make a judgment call.

The biggest thing with NTA complaining about the lack of trust and being spied on is that I literally don’t know what else OTA could have done in that situation. Their options were: do nothing and hope Oliver doesn’t die in prison; openly confront the team and hope that the traitor with unknown motivation just rolls over and goes ‘haha you got me’ (keeping in mind that the last traitor the team had was willing to fake her own death in order to psychologically break Oliver, and was willing to kidnap and possibly kill his son); or spy on the team. While I understand Curtis’s feelings of hurt, the way he’s responding in the long term seems to me a like it could only come from a) feeling like he should be trusted more than Dinah and Rene, b) Oliver had no reason to suspect any of them of anything (he clearly did).

And really, on the part of all of NTA it’s like this complaint of ‘you don’t trust us’ but out of the three of you, one was lying to the team about a criminal they’re actively hunting, and one of you brazenly betrayed Oliver (for a good reason but it still happened). So it’s more like they did trust you, you broke that trust, and now you’re mad that they don’t trust you after you did something to lose their trust. And so I guess in that sense Curtis was more wronged in that he actually didn’t break anyone’s trust, but I still don’t feel that OTA was actually in the wrong with putting the team under surveillance.

So I get NTA’s anger and I think it’s in character, but I also think it’s more emotional than rational and they are now firmly the ones more in the wrong than OTA is.

#arrow #askbox #Arrow civil war

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sharkiegorath · 7 years

Text

I’m still working on the semi-related fic, but here, have me overthinking Finn Kirkwood’s freaking fake wife.

Realistically, the inconsistencies/confused motives listed here are probably the result of three writers, three directors, and possibly episodes being written and shot out of order. It’s a very minor plot hole, and Babylon’s specific narrative style means there’s plenty of room to explain what happened.

'Sarah’ seems like (and was probably written as) an attempt to lull Liz into a false sense of security. But she’s the one offering him an olive branch, and he already has a reasonable 'excuse’ in losing the job to her, which has even been corroborated by Mia telling her that he’s bitter.

(It might be worth mentioning that Finn doesn't say or even directly imply he has a wife. He says he lives with a partner named Sarah. Liz assumes Sarah is his wife, and she doesn't voice this assumption until the end. I mean, it's still a weird thing he does, but lying about a girlfriend somehow seems less weighty than lying about a marriage.)

It could really be about gaining more sympathy so Liz will give him more elbow room. But the lie isn’t sustainable in the long-term. It will inevitably make her dislike him more. Does he honestly think he would’ve gotten rid of her before it became a problem? And in this case, it doesn’t make sense that he chooses to tell the truth the next day; it would’ve been better to act hurt to make her feel guilty. Plus, there’s the weirdness of going “btw I’m married” seconds after calling someone attractive. If he planned to lie, it’s odd that he begins with the seemingly impromptu rattling-off-Liz’s-good-qualities.

It could be a calculated move: he predicts Liz’s betrayal and response at the end of the episode, and plans to pull the rug out from under her to make her realise that she’s also vindictive. But I think that’s way too elaborate for him. In the pilot and subsequent episodes, Finn repeatedly underestimates Liz and people in general. It’s unusual for him to put that level of thought into fighting her and it’s unusual for him to be that right. His revelation packs a punch because Liz used him - what would he do if she hadn’t?

Either way, it’s a weak comeback: “I bet your wife is cheating on you,” “Yeah, well, she isn’t real ! Ha!”

There’s also taking this stuff into account:

Finn antagonises Liz at the start: refusing to take a seat, responding sarcastically to everything she says; he even sounds flippant when he says he's going to be 'really open and honest'. Unless he’s either that terrible or that good at manipulation, this isn't the behaviour of someone planning to gain sympathy.

It's a very flimsy lie, since it's presumably only been told to Liz, not the rest of the world. On social media, Finn wouldn't be in a relationship with someone named Sarah. The discrepancy might even show up in workplace records. Offhandedly mentioning 'Finn's wife' to Mia or Richard or whatever would've exposed Finn and made him look shadier to his coworkers (unless he does this all the time). That makes me think it was a spontaneous lie.

Finn never fully fabricates a story again, even when it would be convenient to do so. (He genuinely believes the lies he feeds to the media, about Richard having an affair with Liz and Jeffires holding a gun.)

He’s usually a bad liar on the spot. In the pilot and the finale, he tries to deny accusations with simple protests, then caves soon afterwards. (The only other time he spins a tale is when he says that Liz has Norovirus, which is his sense of humour and not a serious attempt. He obviously doesn't care if people believe it, and they probably don't.)

Liz is good at detecting other people’s motives, just not so good at accepting what she senses: later, she suspects Things are up with Richard and Sharon multiple times before the actual Things become known problems. She quickly catches on to Matt Coward at the Thameside Centre. During Inglis' speech, she's able to sense his sincerity. Implicitly, she’s able to tell that Grant Delgado provides reliable information even though she doesn’t like him.

When Finn lies, Liz already knows she can't trust him after everything they did to each other on her first day. She’s still suspicious of him as he walks away from that conversation. Yet she's shocked by his revelation. I headcanon that it’s because she did sense real insecurity - it just wasn't for the reasons he gave.

#babylon uk #finn kirkwood #babylon meta #liz garvey

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darkwinterchild · 7 years

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Tommy Merlyn - Slytherin

Albus Dumbledore: You happen to have many qualities Salazar Slytherin prized in his hand-picked students. His own very rare gift, Parseltongue... resourcefulness... determination... a certain disregard for rules.

So from what I’ve seen, Tommy Merlyn is usually sorted in Hufflepuff. I respectfully disagree? I think he’s a Slytherin, just like his best buddy Oliver, and Hufflepuff is actually the house that fits him the least (the puppy eyes are made to fool you!). Tommy is a troublemaker, he is resourceful and determined, he puts a lot of value on family and brotherhood but not on loyalty in general, and he definitely has a lot of potential for greatness. Ergo Slytherin.

Long post under the cut! Consider yourself warned.

I’m just going to go over the major Slytherin traits and values and how they relate to Tommy. Talk about the other houses is at the end.

“A certain disregard for rules”

Tommy: I wish we had just met, and that all this was just beginning and there wasn't so much of me I wish you'd forget.

- 1x07

Both Oliver and Tommy were rebellious playboys: it’s almost their entire backstory. It seems to have been even more the case with Tommy if possible - at least we hear about him getting Ollie in trouble more than the reverse (“Don’t let him get you into too much trouble” from 1x01, or “Tommy had me out a little bit later than maybe I should have been, and I'm wiped” from the 2x20 flashbacks, or how he got Oliver to go with him to Max Fuller’s club in 1x03, or even that story in 5x09 about how Oliver once tried to land a helicopter on the grounds of the US Open because Tommy wanted to impress some girl named Maria Sharapova). An early Arrow promo even describes Oliver hanging with Tommy as “running with the bad crowd”.

If that’s true, it could be because of their different relationships with their parents. Ollie was a bad boy, but he was very close to his mother and hero-worshiped his father. So he did bad things, but that’s because they let him (as Oliver himself said). He probably never intentionally disrespected them or did things that he knew would really upset them. It was different with Tommy. His relationship with his dad was disastrous, and I think this meant he could get even more out of control than Ollie in his own way. Tommy’s parties were apparently legendary (“I never left one of Tommy's parties with my memory intact.”) and prompt to get broken up by the cops. He filled his dad’s pool with beer (roughly a thousand kegs or so), majorly pissed him off, and didn’t care. Heck, even years later as a 24 year-old adult, he stole Malcolm’s private jet to fly to Hong Kong without warning or permission, and when he called him Tommy literally told his father to fuck off (“No, I didn't tell you I was taking the jet because I knew you would freak out like this” and “Look, why don't you just go back to banging your Pilates instructor, ok?”). I do think it’s kind of telling of his mindset.

Point: insubordination toward authority and a love for mischief are Slytherin qualities and Tommy Merlyn certainly qualifies.

Brotherhood

Unlike Gryffs and Claws, Slyths are team players. It’s a group-oriented house, where “you’ll make your real friends.” They stick together and protect one another. Tommy is all about brotherhood and family. We know that he’d sometimes look after Thea in his best friend’s stead after the Gambit sank, that he posed an alert on Oliver’s e-mail account just in case, and went looking for him in Hong Kong when it went off. We know he had a really strong friendship code:

Tommy: No, man, you were with Laurel. And whether you were dead, or as it turns out, alive on a deserted island, you are my friend. And me being with Laurel violated that friendship in about 50 different ways.

-1x03

This code included keeping your friends’ secrets no matter what. As early as the pilot, we saw that he was ready to lie to the police to support his best friend’s story without even being asked beforehand. This is reinforced after 1x16: Tommy chose to keep Oliver’s secret against his own morals. No matter what he thought of him, he didn’t give him up to the police, he didn’t ask Oliver to stop, he didn’t even tell Laurel when it started to put some strain on their relationship. When Detective Lance almost discovered the lair in 1x19, he actively helped him escape the authorities, by lying to an officer of law and his girlfriend’s father, making himself his accomplice. He didn’t have to: he saw the Hood as a murderer, wanted nothing to do with his crusade, and Oliver never even asked for his help. But Tommy protected him anyway. Helping a friend when you think what he is doing is wrong is a very Slytherin thing to do. In general, they’re the ones who’d help you cheat at an exam or bury the bodies, whereas Hufflepuffs’ strong beliefs in justice and fairness would conflict with their sense of loyalty.

Speaking of loyalty, another difference between Slyths and Puffs is that Slyths are loyal to their people, but not necessarily very dependable in general. Just like Tommy used to be:

Tommy: Lying, keeping secrets about who she’s spending time with… Does that remind you of anybody we know? Oliver: Me, in every relationship that I’ve been in. Tommy: Me too. Except this one.

-1x13

Tommy was that guy who’d do anything for the people he loved, but prior to his character development, he wasn’t the most trustworthy person out there.

It’s also interesting to note that despite being a very extroverted person who spent a lot of time outside with other people, he didn’t seem to have any close friends apart from Oliver and Laurel (by season 1 anyway, he seemed a bit lonely on that front). I think he was rather detached from all the people he spent time with - he was their host, their entertainer, even their lover for the ladies. But he couldn’t relate to them like he and Ollie could relate to each other. Here again, this way of living with people - a few very close friends and a giant network of contacts - is very slytherinish.

Ambition and determination

Tommy doesn’t seem very ambitious at first glance, but one has to consider the fact that he’s been drowning in money since birth. For all his life, he could get everything he wanted whenever he wanted (even girls, thanks to his good looks). We know he and Oliver used to talk about going into business together since forever (like opening a ski-lodge), but he never felt the push to go on and make these ideas a reality. He was already Prince of Starling, why bother? In a way, he never needed to be ambitious until his father cut him off.

Oliver: Why didn't you say anything? Tommy: Embarrassment, shame, jealousy. Probably a few other emotions I'm not used to feeling.

-1x08

Tommy never felt threatened before. But after Malcolm froze his funds, it became another story. There was Laurel, whom he was trying to impress, Oliver, his best friend for whom she still had deep and complicated feelings, and then there was him, now forced to work for said best friend. I doubt Tommy left the club and went to work for his father only because Oliver refused to see him for the man he’d become. There was probably a lot of complex reasons behind that choice, and one of them was definitely that he was trying to reclaim his place in the universe as one of the elite, on equal if not superior footing to Oliver Queen (not just in terms of money, but also in terms of power and position - executive at Merlyn Global Group versus manager of a small nightclub in the Glades). He was born with power and prestige, and jumped back into that world without hesitation. But this isn’t even the primary reason I think Tommy was more ambitious than he let on:

Tommy: I'm trying to change. Not sure into what yet but I don't wanna be what I was anymore.

-1x08

This strong desire to be more than what he was, as soon as he realized that it was no longer enough and that there was more, to become someone worthy of Laurel’s love, that makes him pretty ambitious. He started the show a useless playboy and man-child, became a great boyfriend, a successful businessman, and ended the season as a hero.

And I think this is important about Tommy: once he’d find a goal, something for which he was really motivated, then he was driven to the hilt and did whatever he could to succeed. The club, Laurel (winning her heart, becoming a person she’d want to be with, building something with her), even his job at Merlyn Global. It didn’t even have to be something huge that would demand a lot of effort, it could be just another goofy idea, like filling his parents’ pool with beer or playing strip kickball with models on a pro football stadium - Tommy had a tendency to go big with his projects. He was capable of following through an idea to the end even when it became difficult. So he proved he had plenty of determination, the kind Salazar Slytherin would have loved.

Leadership

Tommy was shown to be able to assume leadership positions with ease. Before the start of the show, he seemed to have been a leader in troublemaking around Starling - the guy who knew how to have fun, the guy who hosted the biggest parties, even the guy with the shady contacts (“Before I left, you played hard. You played with bad people who were into bad stuff!” - 1x19). During season 1, we saw him effortlessly falling into his role as nightclub manager - he immediately took charge of the construction process, made sure everyone was doing their job, and showed his willingness and ability to be an authoritative boss (1x10 and 1x11). We saw him do an excellent job at Verdant, and then we saw him comfortably assume a leadership role at Merlyn Global Group for the short period of time he was working there. Tommy was a natural leader, like his father.

Cunning and resourcefulness

We haven’t seen much in terms of cunning and ruthlessness from Tommy in the show per-se - which is why I think he wasn’t as perfect a Slytherin as other characters like Moira or Malcolm - but it was suggested that he was capable of that to some degree. Pre- character development, Tommy was a playboy, a charmer who cheated and kept secrets in every relationship he’d been in. He wasn’t shown as manipulative or anything, but as we’ve seen with Laurel, he knew how to win people over. He was also no stranger to deceit and evasion, and used them to achieve his ends whenever he felt it was necessary. E.g. when he had to keep Detective Lance from discovering the Arrow cave in 1x19. This episode also showcased how resourceful he could be: in very little time, he was able to clean up and hide all the evidence of the Hood’s activities in the basement without anybody realizing it. We also learned he had no problem using illegal solutions to his problems, like bribing a city inspector.

Concerning the other houses

Hufflepuff is in my opinion the house that suits him the least. Honesty and loyalty we’ve seen weren’t really Tommy’s forte. And he hated the idea of hard work. He was called lazy by several characters including himself. Before Malcolm decided to “jolt his son into adulthood” in some late parental awakening, it seems Tommy planned on keeping up his life of debauchery forever, living off daddy’s money (bless inheritance). People expected Oliver to eventually get his act together and take his place in his father’s company, but everyone seemed to think Tommy would always be Tommy. In general, he also didn’t really seem to care all that much about ideals of justice and fairness. As the son of the most powerful billionaire in Starling City, he was extremely privileged, knew it, and loved it (“Isn't that place ridiculously expensive?” “Everywhere worth going is.” -1x08). He was raised in an upper-class environment with rich people values and the understanding that the rules do not apply to him the way they do other people. The fact that Malcolm regularly had to bail him out is one of the three things that came to mind when he described his distant relationship with his father. Tommy actually literally used to laugh in the face of justice. He loved whenever he and/or Oliver would break the law and get away with it (“I just picked up a new sports car. I'm thinking, we can open her up, pick up a few speeding tickets…” -1x06). So yeah, I don’t think Hufflepuff fits.

Gryffindor is not a bad house for him, but not a good one either. Bravery, boldness, recklessness… Tommy didn’t seem to have ever been particularly action-oriented (Oliver was the one doing the crazy taxi or helicopter stealing stuff). He was certainly capable of immense bravery (the way he stood up to the Hood in 1x16, the way he protected Taylor in 1x20, or his final sacrifice in 1x23), but he wasn’t particularly into grand showings of strength, daring or heroism à la Gryffindor. Among the main characters, he was one of the less enthusiastic (utterly unimpressed) about the Hood’s exploits (he saw him as a crazy murderer - see 1x13, 1x17 or 1x19). In fact it’s interesting to compare his opinion to Laurel’s, a true Gryffindor.

Ravenclaw I think would actually be a good sorting for him. Tommy was clever (the way he was quickly able to learn the ropes of club management). The show seemed to hint at a rather developed pop-culture geeky side (just small stuff like his talking about Lost, he read movie reviews, his wanting to name his dog “Arthur” as a kid because he was a “Merlyn”, etc.). He was charming, talkative and witty, even just a little bit eccentric in the way he could tell shameless jokes and be totally inappropriate. He was also very creative - in deeds (I mean, the beer-pool and strip-kickball game with models were certainly original ideas) and in speech (he doesn’t just say “I love you”, he says “I have finally figured out why poets have been in business for the last few thousand years”). So, if he wasn’t a Slytherin, I could see him making a pretty good Ravenclaw.

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punchdrunkdoc · 7 years

Text

5x20 aka: Olicity heaven (with a bit of hell in the last 4 minutes)

It's official, season 5 of Arrow has started! It's a shame the season is so short (starting at 5x17 for some reason. Weird) but I'm enjoying it so far!

I'm only slightly kidding. There was very little about the previous 16 episodes of the show that remotely interested me, and I doubt I'll ever watch them in full; I saw all the 'best' parts in gif-form and short clips and that will do as far as I'm concerned. And you may think that disqualifies me from giving my opinion on the final 7 episodes of the season...but I'm going to anyway. Because what I have to say about 5x20 really only concerns one aspect of the show.

Olicity

This episode was amazing for us shippers. So many wonderful moments. And a few terrible ones as well, but I'll save them for last, lest I be accused of harshing people's buzz or being overly negative.

So first, the positives.

This is gonna be nothing groundbreaking. You've all seen the episode; you've posted and reblogged and tweeted the gifs, with all the appropriate accompanying squeeing. But let me break down my favs:

The flashback scenes were DELIGHTFUL!

(gif by @just-me-and-the-tv)

Tipsy Olicity was on my wish list for Arrow for ages (I ended up having to write my own scene to satisfy my desires) - its so clear that they're FRIENDS first and foremost. They enjoy spending time with each other, and basking in the other's actions and reactions.

The whole salmon ladder sequence was a joy, from Oliver's earnest teaching technique to Felicity's babbles, then the slooooowwww slide she took down Oliver's body, to her initiating the kiss...

(gif by @whoeveryoulovethemost)

And the kissing was uber-hot. I don't know if it's because we were deprived of new material and the old kissing gifs had become a bit too familiar, but man those kisses were on another level! You really felt how much they'd missed each other's lips. How much sinking into those kisses was like coming home; so familiar, but with a new edge of longing and tempered joy.

Perfectly captured in this moment, which was my favourite bit of the whole flashback:

(gifs by @ironstarkasm)

And when Oliver grabbed her and spun her around...I swear I gasped out loud thinking we were gonna see a whole 'nother dominant side to Oliver. But we ended up with Felicity on top again, which felt really fitting. The girl really likes the view from up there!

I loved the present day interactions as well; so much harsher and layered with new pain and frustration, but still with that unshakeable core of love and respect. The EW recap said it best:

THIS is the Arrow I love to watch. Characters working together, supporting each other, facing conflict drawn from their differing view of the world - not from contrived plot points and 'shock value' moments. And, most importantly, confiding in each other:

(gif by @felicitys)

This moment was heartbreaking, not least because to Oliver it was almost a deathbed confession. He NEEDED her to understand where he was coming from. It was imperative that she knew that his apparent lack of trust was not because of her. It was because of him.

The concept and execution of this confession was beautiful; the content...that will be in the negative section.

For now, more positives. I loved the tension and physicality of the bunker sequence. The stunts were incredible - and it was obvious why SA was hitting the gym hard in the lead up to filming. The dude was hauling EBR all over the shop. My absolute favourite moment was after Felicity injects Oliver with adrenaline. SA's comic timing and delivery (something we don't get nearly enough of) was on point! Why aren’t there a million gifs of this! I can watch this on a loop!

And after is slightly crazy-eyed ‘Good’, he just matter-of-factly Oliver pulled Felicity on to his back. He would carry her to the ends of the earth if need be.

And she would sacrifice herself so he wouldn't need to:

(gif by @felicitys)

Goddam, this is how you OTP!

Which is why...I'm kinda bummed the episode was brought down from potential 'best episode ever' status by some questionable writing choices that have more to do with other episodes rather than 5x20.

First up, the issue of break ups and apologies. Oliver has still not uttered the words 'I'm sorry for lying and sneaking behind your back' to Felicity. I know some people in this fandom feel his actions and his vows in the fake wedding were an apology of sorts, but its not enough for me. And I doubt we'll ever hear him apologise properly at this point.

Because the party line of the show has always been that the lies themselves were merely symptomatic of bigger issues: trust and judgement.

Trust

Felicity feels that Oliver doesn't trust her. Oliver explained that the problem was never with her, it was with him. This is the content of that scene I eluded to above, when Oliver confesses his secret. It just feels like a convoluted leap in logic to me. Oliver's convinced he enjoys killing..ergo Felicity feels he doesn't trust her.

Oliver likes killing = Oliver is bad = Oliver is not deserving of love and trust.

THIS logic I can understand (I don't agree with it, because Oliver is good and deserves all the happiness in the world), but I can see the thought progression. I don't understand how that equates to not being able to trust others.

Oliver likes killing = Oliver is bad = the team should not sacrifice their souls in his name = he doesn’t want Felicity going bad

Fine, this works for explaining his objections to Helix. But the scene after this confession immediately switched to the flashback where Felicity said:

(gif by @felicitys)

In the context of William, that explanation makes little sense.

Oliver likes killing = Oliver is bad = Oliver cannot trust himself = how can he trust others if he can't trust himself.

Maybe this is what they're getting at? Still feels a little flimsy. But that's Arrow-logic for you.

Judgement

When I first watched the scene in the hospital I was severely pissed that Felicity apologised (AGAIN) for the break up. In the flashback she apologised for walking instead of talking things out. This I can (grudgingly) understand.

But then she apologised for judging Oliver too harshly and holding him to a high standard she herself fell short of in S5. An understanding she gained by joining Helix.

Because joining Helix = morally questionable = difficult decision made for the right reasons, even if people get hurt = the same as lying to your fiancee about your secret son.

Okay, Arrow. Fine.

I'll accept your premise: Oliver didn’t tell Felicity about William because he enjoys killing and therefore doesn’t trust anyone...and Felicity broke up with him because she hadn’t yet joined Helix and therefore didn’t understand the difficult position lying points you in.

I give in.

It's done, you've addressed it (and retconned it to fit in nicely with your S5 arcs) and we should just move on. I’m willing to ignore all of that INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING AND INFURIATING MESS OF A STORYLINE and just look forward to the reconciliation.

And I will...after one last point, which is more to do with the S5 writing disaster.

It was explicitly stated in 5x20 that Felicity's motivations for joining Helix and going hard for Prometheus...was because of Billy. This just felt like Wendy finally getting the chance to put her head canon on screen after giving interview after interview explaining Billy as the motivation for Felicity’s ‘dark arc’. It doesn’t matter that, until now, Billy was barely mentioned, and it was much more obvious to the viewer that Felicity was gunning for Prometheus because of OLIVER.

I would have LOVED to have seen a moment like this:

Oliver: I know you joined Helix because you wanted justice for Billy-

Felicity: No. I mean, yes. Maybe that was the start of it. But, Oliver...what Prometheus did to YOU - the kidnapping, the torture, the mind games...I was doing all this just as much for you. You've suffered enough over the past 10 years. You've sacrificed for everyone you love, I couldn't bear to see you in any more pain. And if I could stop Prometheus - by whatever means - I was going to do it. For you.

But no. It was all for Billy. The guy we didn't even see her meet, or know when that was, or how their relationship started, or what she liked about him (apart from being bland and nice)...Despite the flimsiness of that character, HE was her driving force.

The Billy-of-it-all, also leads on to my next gripe.

I STILL DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE POINT OF YOU, TINY-HANDS MAN!

Going into this episode, I posted some thoughts on the supposed intentions of the flashbacks, i.e. to explain the Olicity interactions in 5A. As I mentioned in that post, the success of 5x20 would depend on its ability to make sense of 5A....and I think it did the opposite. Don't get me wrong, I think the flashbacks worked, in terms of paralleling the present time (Felicity wasn't ready to talk, now she is; Felicity didn't understand why Oliver couldn't trust, now she does).

But they do NOT explain 5A. Because I still do not understand why Felicity was suddenly in an established relationship with another man. The flashbacks ended with Felicity basically saying she needed time before talking about the breakup, and Oliver said he would be waiting for her when she was ready. The only reason to bother talking about the reasons for the breakup would be to reunite! So this scene, to me, was Felicity very much leaving the door open to reconciliation.

Begin Rant:

Which makes her relationship with Billy (a handful of months later) so inexplicable! When/why/how did she decide she was just going to push aside her relationship with Oliver and try with someone else? And she KNEW he was waiting for her, so her incredulous ‘No!’ when he asked if she was keeping the door open for them in 5x05 was insensitive at best, when viewed in the context of 5x20.

Similarly, how does Oliver's 'I’m totally fine you’re seeing someone else’ make any sense given how they left things after Bunker!Sex:

He should have been PISSED! Because she never gave him the courtesy of telling him she was moving on. And waiting until she knew if it was 'real' is bullshit. The fact she started dating in the first place, even if only casually, was a MAJOR step that he deserved to know about.

I didn't understand 5x05 the first time, but figured Felicity wasn't obligated to tell Oliver anything because she firmly closed the door on him in 4x16. They were O.V.E.R.

But she opened that door during that flashback. And she knew Oliver was waiting on the doorstep.

So why did she sneak out the back door and start fooling around with a cop? IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE!

Plus this all gives credence to my assumption that 5x20 was never in the original plan. Otherwise, 5x05 would have been written differently, to incorporate the 5x20 FB dynamic better.

End rant.

So those are my thoughts.

Well done if you reached the end - I did ramble on a bit, but I needed to vent.

And it’s turned out to be therapeutic. I’ve since rewatched the ep after writing out all these grievances (and with my ‘giving in to the narrative’ frame of mindI) and it actually made the episode even more enjoyable! Arrow is never going to fix the mess they made, so I’m going with the out of sight, out of mind approach by just concentrating on the goodness to come.

Bring on the rest of the season!

#Arrow #Olicity #5x20 #my thoughts

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